Shaboozey is set to return with a new album this year, and it just might be his most creatively ambitious project yet.
On July 31, he will release his fourth album, the concept project The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, via his record imprint American Dogwood in partnership with EMPIRE.
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Overall, the concept album will feature a story arc that follows an outlaw revenge story. After watching as her sheriff father is killed by the Bootcut Boys, Cherie Lee begins to take revenge, until she unexpectedly begins to fall in love with one of those outlaws. That decision ultimately leads to disastrous consequences.
Shaboozey is known for his collaborations with artists including Jelly Roll, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Ferrell and BigXthaPlug, and his upcoming album is set to feature more genre-melding collabs. Meanwhile, the lead single from The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, “Born to Die,” will release Friday.
Shaboozey will celebrate the album with a pop-up saloon experience at Stagecoach this year. The pop-up will run April 24-26 and will take fans inside a saloon environment that is inspired by the album’s narrative.
The new album follows his 2024 breakthrough project Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, which featured his smash hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” a song that reigned at the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks. The song also spent seven weeks atop the Country Airplay chart, and Shaboozey followed with more Country Airplay No. 1s: “Amen” with Jelly Roll, and “Good News.” “Amen” also earned a Grammy for best country duo/group performance.
“Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going was a journal entry and an opportunity for the world to get to know more about me as a person,” Shaboozey said in a statement. “That album changed my life. I never expected people to connect with the album and enjoy it the way they did. But now I want to show the world who I am as an artist and storyteller. The Outlaw Cherie Lee is a project that’s been several years in the making and has gone through many iterations. It’s a western about revenge told continuously through every song, centered on the character Cherie Lee.”
He added, “It explores so many themes, as many timeless westerns have: revenge, redemption, and romance, through the eyes of a protagonist looking to challenge everything she once thought true about her world. I poured all of myself into this and I hope people become as immersed in the world and the journey as I have. This album was a promise to myself and something, no matter what, I had to keep. It pushed my songwriting and storytelling to new heights, and I couldn’t be more proud to say it’s done and almost yours.”
See the album trailer for The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales below:
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 22:01:192026-04-20 22:01:19Shaboozey Announces New Concept Album ‘The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales’: ‘It Explores So Many Themes’
Ella Langley is getting her flowers on Billboard’s charts (dated April 25), thanks to the debut of her album Dandelion.
Released April 10 via SAWGOD/Columbia Records, the singer-songwriter’s new album launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 169,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in its opening week (April 10-16), according to Luminate. Langley earns her first leader on the chart, as it arrives with the top weekly total for an album by a woman this year and the biggest one-week sum among country albums by women since Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter in 2024.
Langley concurrently jump two spots to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, where she also leads for the first time. She becomes just the fourth woman to top the chart in its 12-year history on the heels of a country album, following Carrie Underwood, who spent a week at No. 1 in September 2018, Taylor Swift (multiple weeks on top via re-recordings of country projects Red and Fearless) and Megan Moroney, who ruled for the first time last month.
Langley also places 15 songs from Dandelion on the Billboard Hot 100, led by seven-week No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas.” Here’s a recap of her entries on the chart (all debuts except where noted).
Rank, Title: No. 1, “Choosin’ Texas” (No. 1 for seventh week) No. 4, “Be Her” (up from No. 8; new high) No. 20, “Bottom of Your Boots” No. 21, “Loving Life Again” (up from No. 38; new high) No. 27, “Dandelion” (up from No. 46; new high) No. 53, “Broken” No. 54, “We Know Us” No. 55, “You & Me Time” No. 62, “Low Lights” No. 63, “Speaking Terms” No. 71, “Butterfly Season,” with Miranda Lambert No. 75, “Somethin’ Simple” No. 76, “Last Call for Us” No. 80, “I Gotta Quit” No. 83, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”
As Langley simultaneously rules the Artist 100, Hot 100 and Billboard 200, she becomes just the sixth woman to lead all three charts in the same week (dating to the Artist 100’s 2014 launch), joining Swift, Adele, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo. The only other artists to lead all three in the same week this year are Swift (on the Jan. 10-dated chart) and Bruno Mars (March 14).
Langley also becomes just the 11th woman to top the Billboard 200 this century with a country album. Here’s a chronological rundown of every such set by a woman or all-woman act (based on titles that have hit Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart).
Title, Artist, Peak Date: Home, The Chicks, Sept. 14, 2002 Cry, Faith Hill, Nov. 2, 2002 Up!, Shania Twain, Dec. 7, 2002 Fireflies, Faith Hill, Aug. 20, 2005 All Jacked Up, Gretchen Wilson, Oct. 15, 2005 Taking the Long Way, The Chicks, June 10, 2006 Reba Duets, Reba McEntire, Oct. 6, 2007 Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood, Nov. 10, 2007 Fearless, Taylor Swift, Nov. 29, 2008 Keep on Loving You, Reba, Sept. 5, 2009 Play On, Carrie Underwood, Nov. 21, 2009 Speak Now, Taylor Swift, Nov. 13, 2010 Blown Away, Carrie Underwood, May 19, 2012 Red, Taylor Swift, Nov. 10, 2012 Platinum, Miranda Lambert, June 21, 2014 Now, Shania Twain, Oct. 21, 2017 Cry Pretty, Carrie Underwood, Sept. 29, 2018 Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, April 24, 2021 Red (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, Nov. 27, 2021 Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, July 22, 2023 Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé, April 13, 2024 Cloud 9, Megan Moroney, March 7, 2026 Dandelion, Ella Langley, April 25, 2026
The Artist 100 measures acts’ activity across key metrics of music consumption: album sales, track sales, radio airplay and streaming. Using a methodology comprising those metrics, the chart provides a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 21:35:512026-04-20 21:35:51Ella Langley Tops Artist 100 for First Time, Charts 15 Songs on Hot 100 From ‘Dandelion’
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.
Re-pack your festival gear. Now that Coachella 2026 is finally over, country music’s biggest festival, Stagecoach 2026, is up next, and tickets are going fast.
This year’s headliners — Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Post Malone — will be taking the stage from April 24 through the 26 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. The festival is held on the same grounds as Coachella, with minor tweaks made here and there to accommodate different acts. Other notable performers featured in the stacked lineup include Bailey Zimmerman, Riley Green, Brooks & Dunn, Ella Langley, Red Clay Strays, Warren Zeiders, Nate Smith, Sam Barber, Gavin Adcock, Wyatt Flores, Hudson Westbrook and Cameron Whitcomb.
Many festival-goers often come to the grounds for the HonkyTonk tent. Tent’s lineup is curated by Diplo and will see performances from the DJ and music producer along with Emo Nite featuring Ashlee Simpson, Dillstradamus (Dillon Francis + Flosstradamus), Juicy J, Loud Luxury, Marshmello, DJ Pauly D, Rebecca Black, Theo Von b2b Caleb Pressley, Two Friends and Wuki, among others. This is the fourth year that Diplo’s HonkyTonk tent has been on the festival grounds.
If you can’t make it out to the desert this year, you can catch all the action via Amazon Music, the exclusive livestream destination for Stagecoach 2026. The stream will run from April 24–26 across Prime Video, Twitch and the Amazon Music app, starting at 3 p.m. PDT every day. Tickets for the festival went on sale in October, and the demand for them hasn’t died down. Securing tickets to the festival can be difficult, especially given that they sell out within hours of release. Not to mention, pricing is not always ideal.
Below, we’ve compiled some of our favorite sites to shop for affordable last-minute tickets for Stagecoach 2026. We’ve also included promo codes that’ll hopefully bring down the pricing further. Keep reading to learn more.
Where to Buy Affordable Last-Minute Stagecoach 2026 Tickets Online
If you’ve been searching for tickets for the specific day or days that you’d like to attend Stagecoach 2026, StubHub is a great place to start. The interface is user-friendly and tickets are organized by date and artists performing. As of now, the site has three-day passes going for $519 and up. There are still a bunch of tickets from general admission to VIP options available. You can also buy shuttle access to the festival on StubHub for those with mobility issues.
While searching for tickets can be tricky, especially on third-party sites, StubHub makes it easy with its FanProtect Guarantee. This initiative protects fan’s purchases by ensuring valid tickets or your money back. Plus, if your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event, or the option of a cash refund.
Vivid Seats is also a pretty amazing choice with a ton of affordable options with prime pricing on some in-demand dates starting at $423. To make your tickets even more affordable, our readers can use code BB30 to snag $30 off their purchase. Vivid Seats has a great 100% Buyer Guarantee that vows your transaction will be secure, that your tickets will be delivered before your event and that those tickets will be valid and authentic.
ShopBillboard is also a big fan of SeatGeek. With a quick search, we saw tickets for Stagecoach 2026 for $451, another affordable pick for prime festival days. If you’re looking to save some extra bucks on tickets, you can use promo code BILLBOARD10 at checkout to receive $10 off. Like most other ticketing sites, SeatGeek features an awesome Buyer Guarantee that ensures smooth ticket purchases every time, so you can purchase worry-free. The site also offers you venue options based on your location, giving you the closest venue to you.
Our readers can get even more savings on Stagecoach 2026 tickets via TicketNetwork. Right now, you can use code BILLBOARD300 at checkout to save $300 off orders of $1,000, and BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off orders of $500. Tickets on the site are pretty pricey through and through, but our promo code should help lessen the blow to your wallet. TicketNetwork also offers shuttle passes similar to StubHub, so you can get around the festival without having to hustle.
If you don’t have the money to buy your tickets just yet, you can also buy the tickets on the website now and pay later with help from Affirm, giving you flexible spending options on top of our code. Plus, the website includes all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll be paying upfront (fees included).
Gametime also offers affordable ticketing options for Stagecoach 2026, some of the best pricing we’ve seen on our search thus far, with tickets for three-day passes going for $548. Gametime guarantees the lowest prices, event cancellation protection, job-loss assurance and on-time ticket delivery for a smooth ticket-buying experience every time.
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.
Billie Eilish‘s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, in support of her 2024 album of the same name, took place almost two years ago. The tour spanned the globe, making stops in Canada, the United States, Australia, Sweden, Norway, France, Spain and the list goes on and on.
The “Wildflower” singer’s tour started Sept. 29, 2024, and ended more than a year later, on Nov. 23, 2025. The tour was a triumph for Eilish, who played the Billboard Hot 100 top five hits “Lunch,” “Therefore I Am,” “Birds of a Feather” and more in front of thousands. If you got to see the tour and you’re looking to sing your heart out and relive the magic, or you missed out and want to see what all the hype is about, Eilish’s tour is coming to the big screen, this time, in 3-D.
The film, titled Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, was co-directed by Eilish alongside famed director James Cameron, best known for his work on Titanic and the Avatar film franchise. The video footage you’ll be seeing included in the film was taken during Eilish’s four Manchester shows in 2025, which were attended by around 77,931 people total. If you just can’t wait, early access tickets are available to purchase now at Fandango for screenings beginning April 29 through May 17. Tickets for regular screenings are also available now at Fandango. Regular screening for the film begins May 8.
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live in 3D
This is a concert movie filmed during Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour in 2024. The concert began in Sept. of that year and ran until Nov. 2025.
The 3-D aspect is a nice touch for creating an immersive atmosphere similar to a concert. If it’s not your thing, though, some locations also offer non-3-D experiences. The same can be said for Dolby theaters showing the film. These theaters combine Dolby Vision, a dual-laser projection that creates ultra-vivid colors and deep contrast, and Dolby Atmos sound that makes audio feel 3D, filling up an entire theater.
If you want the best audio for your moviegoing experience, especially for a concert film like this one, we’d suggest looking for theaters with Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos’ quality is considered the best sound format for most modern theaters. It is worth noting that these tickets will cost a little more than your standard theater ticket because of the upgrade in sound quality.
During her 2024/2025 tour, Eilish performed a whopping 106 total shows with an all-star setlist and special guests, including Nat & Alex Wolff, Towa Bird, The Marías, Young Miko, Ashnikko, her brother Finneas, Tom Odell and Lola Young, among others. You’ll likely see some of these special guest performers popping up in the film.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 21:15:522026-04-20 21:15:52Watch ‘Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour’ in Theaters (And in 3-D!): Where to Buy Tickets Online
When Madonna popped outas a surprise guest during Sabrina Carpenter‘s headlining set at weekend 2 of Coachella on Friday (April 17), she delivered yet another iconic pop culture moment in a career built on them. But the vintage costumes that helped make that moment so iconic have apparently gone missing.
On Monday (April 20), the Queen of Pop took to her Instagram Story to announce the burglary and to reflect on her return to Coachella, 20 years after the festival hosted her first Stateside performance of her classic 2005 LP, Confessions on a Dance Floor. “Still flying high since Friday night at Coachella,” she opened her note. “Thank you to Sabrina and everyone who made it possible. Bringing Confessions II back to where it began was such a thrill.”
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“The full circle moment hit different until I discovered that the vintage pieces that I wore went missing — my costume that was pulled from my personal archives — jacket, corset, dress and all other garments,” the pop icon, 67, continued. “These aren’t just clothes, they are part of my history. Other archival items from the same era went missing as well. I’m hoping and praying that some kind soul will find these items and reach out to my team. I’m offering a reward for their safe return. Thank you with all my heart.”
Madge’s surprise appearance coincided with the release of “I Feel So Free,” the hypnotic lead single from her forthcoming Confessions II, which arrives on July 3 as the official sequel to her 2005 album. After shortening her rendition of “Juno,” Carpenter welcomed Madonna to the stage for duets of “Vogue,” the first taste of “Bring Your Love” (a duet between the two blonde bombshells expected to appear on Confessions II) and “Like a Prayer.”
While onstage, Madonna made sure to note that she rewore the same corset, boots and Gucci jacket from her last Coachella appearance. She complemented those pieces with a lavender corset bodysuit, lacy knee-high purple stockings, lavender gloves and a pair of oversized sunglasses. As Carpenter stood beside her in full Man’s Best Friend glam, Madonna’s influence over the entire landscape of pop music aesthetics was palpable.
To celebrate her triumphant performance, Madonna shared a photoset on her official Instagram page. “A moment in history I will never forget, I feel so free!” she wrote in the caption of backstage flicks, mid-show photos and behind-the-scenes candids.
Although her Coachella appearance hit all the right notes, Madonna has no official plans to tour anytime soon. But if “I Feel So Free” — which combines Confessions producer Stuart Price and new-school electronic music luminary Arca — is any indication, Confessions II will keep the world dancing, stolen clothes be damned.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 21:15:512026-04-20 21:15:51Madonna Reveals Theft of Vintage Costumes After Sabrina Carpenter Coachella Set: ‘These Aren’t Just Clothes, They Are Part of My History’
Iceman season is almost here. Adding another chapter to the Iceman rollout, Drake is set to reveal the anticipated album’s release date, which is hidden inside a massive block of ice in downtown Toronto.
“Release date inside,” Drake cryptically wrote to his Instagram Story on Monday (April 20), with coordinates of a Toronto location, which appears to be a parking lot on the corner of Dundas Street East and Bond Street.
Photos and clips emerged on Monday afternoon featuring construction personnel hard at work piecing the glacier blue ice structure together block by block.
— billboard hip-hop/r&b (@billboardhiphop) April 20, 2026
OVO fans were sent into a frenzy, throwing out predictions of the release date or when the ice will eventually melt. Now the countdown begins toward the reveal of Iceman‘s arrival, which should be official in the coming days, with temperatures surging into the 50s by Wednesday (April 22).
Drake has continued to drop Iceman hints in recent days on his Instagram Story. “Its in,” he wrote alongside a photo of him stacking ice blocks.
Earlier in April, a fiery explosion was seen in Toronto around the Downsview Airport. Now confirmed that the pyrotechnics were part of an upcoming Drizzy music video.
“Just all of a sudden, everything shook. The bed shook, the floor shook, the windows were rattling, everything,” resident Rosanna Laboni told CBC.
On April 12, Drake’s courtside seats were turned frozen for the Toronto Raptors season finale at Scotiabank Arena, signaling that Iceman was on the horizon.
“Drake’s seats froze,” the Raptors wrote to X.
It’s been nearly a year of thawing for Iceman, as the OVO boss set the album rollout in motion in 2025 with the release of singles like “What Did I Miss,” “Which One” and “Dog House” featuring YEAT and singer Julia Wolf.
“What Did I Miss” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the last top 10 hit from a rapper. He also released a series of livestreams, which saw him previewing unreleased music.
Drake also teased Iceman‘s arrival during a video appearance at the Juno Awards while honoring Nelly Furtado. “Enjoy your Hall of Fame status. It’s long overdue. Kill the performance. We love you, dawg. Iceman coming soon,” he said.
With temperatures rising, Iceman is finally thawing and the wait appears to be over with a release date for the album imminent.
Ballads rule the day on this week’s crop of new country releases. Music heavyweights Reba McEntire, Cody Johnson and Riley Green are all releasing new songs, weaving through themes of love and longing. Meanwhile, rising artist Vincent Mason sets heartbreak to a driving melody, and SJ McDonald weaves a tale of youthful ambitions that have faded into small-town memories.
Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.
Reba McEntire, “One Night in Tulsa”
Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire wraps her inimitable voice around this tender ballad of longing and loneliness. “I’d spend a month in the desert/ Just to be together,” she sings as a sweeping ’90s country melody swells with emotional power, as backing vocals from bluegrass-gospel group The Isaacs further bolstering the song’s dynamics. Written by Neal Coty, Kylie Frey and Thom McHugh, “One Night in Tulsa” is the title track to McEntire’s latest project, an intimate collection of songs inspired by her native Oklahoma.
Cody Johnson, “I Want You”
Johnson just announced his upcoming album Banks Of The Trinity, which includes this tender, slow-burn ballad. “I want you when you’re healing/ And when you’re broke into,” he sings with quiet intensity, backed by an understated musical arrangement as he declares a steadfast devotion that is unswayed by circumstances. The song was written by Tom Douglas, Tony Lane and Matt Rogers. Johnson is known for dynamic melodies that make the most of his powerful voice, but this song’s strength is in its measured vulnerability.
Riley Green, “My Way”
Green has previously earned hits with ballads such as the sultry “Worst Way” and the tender “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and on his latest, he continues letting the music lead, with a mesh of refined, minimalist guitars and fiddle. On this rustic, lived-in sounding track, he sings of pining to reunite with an ex-lover, with the song’s lyrics etching out his dreams of rekindling their romance, spending time together, listening to Al Green records, watching the sun go down and enjoying time being in love. The song is understated, and he keeps his vocal delivery relaxed and conversational, never stretching beyond what the song calls for.
Vincent Mason, “Don’t Ask Me”
This earthy, unvarnished track from Mason finds him still swirling in the depths of post-breakup pain. “Don’t ask me how I’ve been/ Don’t ask about those empty cans rolling ’round in my truck bed,” he sings, and “Don’t Ask Me” doesn’t bring a neat resolution; instead, the song lets listeners fully immerse themselves in the confusion, hurt and acceptance. Though the song delves into the throes of heart-shattering disappointment, the song’s rhythm and melody have enough pluck and grit to keep the song moving at a steady clip.
SJ McDonald, “We Didn’t Make It That Far”
McDonald wraps out her soothing twang around a tale of two adults looking back on their teenage dreams of escaping their small town and building a life together outside the confines of the county lines. But somewhere along the way, those ambitions fizzled, and McDonald sings of how they each now live two different lives, but both their lives are still centered in that same small town. “We Didn’t Make It That Far” is the title track of McDonald’s new EP, coming May 15. With each new release, McDonald is proving to be one of country music’s most incisive, vivid storytellers.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 20:22:522026-04-20 20:22:525 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Reba McEntire, Cody Johnson, Riley Green & More
For the third time in a decade, the company now known as Anthem Entertainment, which owns royalties of Rush and Timbaland, among others, is up for sale, according to sources who also say the process may be delivering bids in the $500 million to $600 million range. Two earlier efforts, in 2017 and 2022, failed to get a bid high enough to satisfy the sellers (the Ontario Teachers Union pension fund is the majority owner). Will the third time be a charm?
For one, this time the deal is being shopped by powerhouse investment bank Goldman Sachs instead of RBC Capital, which oversaw the 2017 effort when the company was known as ole, the majorly indie; and Moelis & Co., which led the 2022 excursion into the music asset market.
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One of the things that hampered Anthem’s sale attempts in the past was that its catalog had been weighted with production music, which trades at lower multiples than traditional music publishing gets. Nor does Compact Media, a TV, film and audio-visual secondary rights administration company it acquired in 2016, command traditional music publishing multiples.
While Anthem still owns and operates London-based Compact Media as a subsidiary, in 2024 it struck a deal to unload three music production music portfolios, Jingle Punks, 5 Alarm Music and Cavendish Music — which had a combined 650,000 tracks — to Slipstream, a company founded by former members of ole. Terms of that deal were not disclosed.
The last time the company was up for sale, sources said that the management team was hoping to find an equity sponsor to replace the Ontario Teachers Union pension fund. It’s unclear if that’s the goal this time, or if strategic competitors can also bid on the company.
Nevertheless, the elimination of the production music units likely makes Anthem more attractive to mainstream music publishers and/or music asset investors.
Sources suggest that Anthem Entertainment is generating somewhere in the range of $40 million to $50 million annually in net publisher’s share. That’s down from the $70 million in net publisher’s share that was reported in 2022, but that total also included the since sold production music pie of the pie.
Besides buying the Rush publishing catalog and its master recording royalties in 2014, and Timbaland publishing catalogs in 2012 — and also doing a going-forward publishing deal with the latter — in 2013, ole acquired the Sony Pictures Entertainment publishing catalog for about $125 million. Some sources suggest that deal turned into a lucrative asset for Anthem as it includes music from the Spider-Man and Men In Black franchises, among other blockbuster movies and hit TV shows.
Along the way, ole transformed into Anthem Entertainment after it acquired that label — which had issued albums by Big Wreck, Team Party and Bob & Doug McKenzie, among others — in 2015.
Both Anthem Entertainment and Goldman Sachs declined to comment for this story.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 20:22:512026-04-20 20:22:51Anthem Entertainment on the Market for Third Time in a Decade
Billboard JAPAN’s “MONTHLY FEATURE” series, present various artists and works that have caught its eye. This month, we spoke with ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, a Tokyo-based DJ who performs around the world.
In recent years, we’ve been seeing more and more DJs and producers from Japan paving their own way and building a reputation in the overseas festival and club scenes. ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U has become one of the icons of this trend, gaining fans in Japan and abroad through his play style, which leaps between genres and eras, and his unique mixing sensibilities. His set for the Boiler Room, a globally influential live streaming platform that shares local club cultures, has already reached over 18 million total views on YouTube in just over one year. This is a testament to the accolades he has received from the global club scene.
In addition to recently performing at Coachella 2026, he has also toured South America, including performing in Lollapalooza. Billboard JAPAN was able to interview him remotely while he was staying in Colombia. We talked to him about what led to him becoming connected to the global scene and to the philosophy behind his musical activities.
You’re in Colombia now, right? I’ve heard this is your first tour of South America?
Yeah, it’s my first time here on tour. Last year was the first time I toured the U.S., too. On this tour, so far, I’ve already played in Argentina and Chile, both with Lollapalooza. I remember reading about Lollapalooza in magazines back when I was in high school, so I’m really happy to be able to be a part of it now.
What have the reactions of the South American audiences been like?
The festivals are huge, but a lot of people have come to my sets, which is great. The fans here will sing what sound like soccer cheers while I play, or call out my name…In Chile, when I played Skrillex, a mosh pit broke out.
I know your set on Boiler Room: Tokyo played an important part in your breakout as a global artist.Looking at the YouTube video now, I see it’s got over 18 million views.
I’m very thankful for it. I wanted a lot of different people to see the set, so I really thought it out, and I’m glad it’s been watched by so many people. I felt it went well, but I never expected it to get this big. Lately I’ve been making playlists of songs to choose from, with all kinds of BPMs, so that no matter what kind of DJ plays before me, I can mix over from them, keeping the flow. Lately I’ve been picking from there and improvising a lot. But with Boiler Room: Tokyo, I knew going in that I had one hour. When I know a set is a make-it-or-break-it set, I design it carefully.
I go back and rewatch it from time to time, and every time I do, I discover something new. It was a wonderful performance.
That makes me so happy to hear. I love cinema, and when you watch a movie a second time, it’s totally different than the first time, so I guess it’s kind of like that. At least, I hope it is.
The last time we talked, you mentioned that you’d watched director Shinji Aoyama’s EUREKA several times.
Recently, I went to see Sho Miyae’s Two Seasons, Two Strangers like three times. Every time I watched it, it made a different impression on me. It was like I’d notice different details, or like nothing was happening but actually a whole lot was going on. It’s a wonderful film. Also, One Battle After Another. That’s a really powerful film, but when you watch it a second time, it’s totally different. It would be hard to provide a short explanation of just how it was different, though.
It’s heavy but humorous.
Right. There’s a certain lightness that lingers on. It’s well-crafted entertainment.
That’s true for your own music, too.There are a lot of different sides to your one-hour set. It’s extremely multifaceted.
I don’t personally feel like I brought out a lot of humor in my set, but I’m glad you feel that way. I’d like to inject some humor, but I’ve got so much going on I just can’t. I still place higher priority on impact and emotion… But if you feel there’s humor in there… I guess, yeah, if you look at films directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it’s not so much that there’s humor because he’s trying to be humorous, but the way his characters live is, in itself, humorous. That’s also the kind of actor Leonardo DiCaprio is.
Come to think of it, you’ve mentioned that you were influenced by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and he and Alva Noto worked on the score for The Revenant.
I’ve always loved Ryuichi Sakamoto. I’ve seen most of the movies he’s been involved with. It’s a little hard to say exactly how he’s influenced me, though…
I sense a lot of influence.Like the way your music is layered.
Ah, I see. Yeah, that might be so. I do feel like I’ve been getting better and better at equalizing as I mix. I feel like maybe his influence comes through there. I put in my practice, and I’ve done a good number of sets, so I think I’m getting better. Playing in different places, I’ve gained a sense of how the situation varies depending on where you’re playing. I’ve learned what kinds of problems come up and what’s difficult to do, and through my experiences I’ve also learned how to deal with these issues. Experience has really helped me out.
So you practice?
I do. I practice mixing between two songs. Sometimes I discover really wonderful mixes. I mean, I have to practice. I’m always trying new things, not just repeating the same thing. Sometimes, things don’t go well, you know? You’re playing in front of an audience, and you mess up. You try to cover it up by mixing as best you can, but there are songs that match and songs that just don’t. Even with two great songs, you’ll realize that their melodies that clash or they just don’t work together. I feel like I’ve gotten better at identifying those kinds of mismatches in advance, but I still make the occasional mistake. The mixer is divided up into three or four bands, and usually the melody is in the middle range, so I’ll drop the mid-band, slowly lowering the volume so the melody doesn’t stand out much, until I’m like “I think I can work the next track in around here”… So I manage to cover up mistakes like that (laughs).
With more experience under my belt, I feel like I’ve become quicker on my feet. When you’re DJing, your mind is always racing. And what you do differs depending on the event, too. Like, if I’m playing in Australia I might play AC/DC, or, since I’m playing in Lollapalooza, I’ll put on a song by Jane’s Addiction (which is fronted by Perry Farrell the founder of Lollapalooza). The theme of Boiler Room: Tokyo is world peace, so I ended with a song with that kind of feel. When I pick what to play, I think about the vibe of the other performers and DJs, the label, and the like.
You’re really dedicated to entertainment and giving the audience a good show.This year marks the 10th anniversary of Zone Unknown, the event you organize in Osaka.Do you think over the past decade you’ve developed even more of an entertainer’s mentality?
I think so. I’ve always thought that a DJ is an artist, but also an entertainer. Every time I play, I do the best I can to give everyone in the audience something they can take back with them from the show. I love all kinds of music, which I guess has also influenced me.
You had surgery for brain cancer and were on the brink of death a decade ago, right?
Right. Over the past ten years, I’ve just slowly and steadily done my very best. The Boiler Room: Tokyo set went viral, and a lot of people watched it, but it’s what I’ve always been doing. I want to keep getting better, little by little, both as a DJ and as a person.
Has the importance you place on the feel and power of your sound been a constant over the past decade?
Good question. Over the past ten years, I’ve encountered all kinds of new music, and I think my own musical sensibilities have expanded. But I’ve always liked that strength and impact, and I’ve always liked really delicate music, too. Powerful music is easier for the audience to dance to. I listen to all kinds of music every day, but I do feel like the music I pick tends to be powerful.
But your sets also include ambient music and post-classical music. I feel like they combine hard and soft, and there’s a durability to the sound.That’s what makes the layers of the sound so beautiful.
Hmm, I see. Sometimes I’ll be mixing two songs, the original versions, and people will ask me what remix I’m playing. When I’m equalizing, I’m balancing the highs, middles, and lows with the mixer. I’m just playing what feels good to me, but maybe that changes something in the music. Then again, sometimes when I’m doing that on stage, things don’t go well, and it can be hard going. But I don’t remember the position of the high, mid, and low knobs for each transition, so I just try and find what feels good to me.
Your sets really reflect a joy in living. A strong sense of catharsis about life.I’m sure that your recovery from brain surgery plays a big part in that. But I also get the sense that recent changes in life and society are also part of it.Is that something you feel yourself?
Yes, I do. I try to reflect that (intentionally), but sometimes I think it also just comes across unconsciously. I always hope that my sets will give listeners a bit more power they can tap into in their lives, some encouragement that they’ll take back with them after the show. The world is turning into an uglier, darker place. I don’t think that’s going to stop. There’s misery everywhere you look. So I hope when people listen to my sets, they feel better. Then again, there are a lot of people who can’t come to hear me play in person… It’s a tough situation. But I do want to make the world a better place in whatever way I can. I don’t think I’ve succeeded in that yet, though.
But I feel really fulfilled, and I’ve been so lucky. In my overseas performances, a huge company is serving as my agent, so everything from getting visas to entering different countries has gone smoothly. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, so I feel like my hard work is starting to pay off a little. But I still don’t feel like I’ve been rated very highly in Japan. I’m extremely Japanese, through and through, and I have no intentions to move overseas. Like, when it comes to food, I like eel on rice (laughs). Japan’s still a pleasant place to live. The supermarkets and the record shops I want to go to are all in Japan. I often go to Disk Union and Tower Records.
You’ll be playing at Coachella for the first time, soon, right?
Right. I was so happy when I got the offer. I put my all into every event, but for Coachella I’m planning on playing a set with a message of peace. Being able to perform at Coachella as a DJ is kind of cool. I think of myself as a DJ, and there’s a lot of untapped potential in DJs. I don’t think it will ever be completely tapped. There’s so much music that’s already come out that you could never go through all of it, and on top of that, new music keeps on coming out. That just broadens the horizons of DJs even more.
–This interview by Shino Okamura first appeared on Billboard Japan
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 19:46:092026-04-20 19:46:09¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, The Genre-Defying DJ Taking the World by Storm: Billboard JAPAN Monthly Feature
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It’s no secret that country is king—and queen. From Beyoncé’s historic album of the year win at the Grammys for her twangy Cowboy Carter to the massive success of stars like Morgan Wallen and Kelsea Ballerini, it’s clear that country isn’t going anywhere. And its fans just keep getting louder.
Gone are the days when it was cool to say country wasn’t cool. (Just ask Lainey Wilson.) So celebrate the genre and all the country music fans in your life with these Nashville-centric gifts.
This is a travel box that allows you to store your cowboy hats safely. The box also comes with adjustable straps, allowing you to carry it on your back.
Whether they’re planning a visit to Music City or heading out of town for a country music fest, this cowboy hat travel case is a must-have for country lovers looking to dress the part. The case is crush-resistant and water-resistant, plus it fits most cowboy hats. Not to mention fedoras, sun hats and more. There’s even a detachable shoulder strap that makes it an easy personal item to tote through the airport.
100 Years of Grand Ole Opry: A Celebration of the Artists, the Fans, and the Home of Country Music
100 Years of Grand Ole Opry teaches the history of the Grand Ole Opry in an easily digestible manner. The book is currently 70% off on Amazon.
Since 1925, the Grand Ole Opry radio show has been an iconic part of American music history. 100 Years of the Grand Ole Opry: A Celebration of the Artists, the Fans, and the Home of Country Music celebrates a century of stars and songs through never-before-seen photography and behind-the-scenes stories from those who have paced backstage before career-defining performances. This official book of The Opry is the ultimate history book for true country music fans.
Hotter Than A Hoochie Coochie 90s Country Retro Insulated Can Cooler
This is a themed coozie or koozie reading “Hotter Than a Hoochie Coochie.” This item is meant to keep your drinks ice cold for hours, insulating the cold.
The Alan Jackson fan to boat owner pipeline is pretty short, so outfit the river-riding cowboy in your life with these fitting can coolers. Printed with an image of Jackson floating with his guitar and the uber-quotable lyrics from his 1992 hit “Chattahoochee,” they’re a great way to keep cool on a hot summer day on the water or down by the river on a Friday night.
Heart Life Music: A New York Times Bestselling Memoir from the Beloved Country Music Star
Kenny Chesney’s book Heart Life Music is currently 50% off on Amazon. The book is a New York Times bestseller.
Before hits like “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “I Go Back,” Kenny Chesney was just a good ole kid from Knoxville, Tennessee. In this New York Times bestseller, the country superstar shares the stories behind his songs and the struggles he faced before finding massive success. Along the way, he’s met some pretty famous folks who played a role in his life, including Willie Nelson, John Madden and more. He dives into his life story one Blue Chair Bay rum-soaked chapter at a time.
This travel bag is Nashville-themed and can be used to organize your travel essentials.
Nashville is always a good idea. And so is this adorable travel pouch. Emblazoned with cowboy hats, boots, horseshoes and more, it’s the ideal accessory for a trip to Music City or parts unknown. After all, for country music fans, life is a highway. Why not pack accordingly?
This is a neon sign meant to be hung on the wall. The sign reads “What Would Dolly Do?”
“What would Dolly do?” Is there any more important question? Not for country music fans. Light up the room just like Dolly would with this 10” x 15” hot pink neon sign. Not only is it an iconic way to pay tribute to an actual icon, but it’s also easy to install and comes with a dimmer switch. But Dolly wouldn’t want anyone to dull their sparkle, so it probably won’t get much use.
Throwing it back to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour, this sash lets you relive the memories. The sash is made of a silky fabric in red, white and blue.
Sash-a fierce! Do your best impression of the Cowboy Carter cover with this beauty queen sash that looks just like the one Beyoncé wore on the album. All you need to complete the look is a cowboy hat, an American flag, and the ability to ride a horse side saddle. What, like it’s hard?
This is a vintage-inspired tee in gray with white lettering. The quote on the front is inspired by a lyric from The Chicks’ song “Goodbye Earl.”
If you don’t know what happened to Earl, why are you even reading this list? With a reference to one of The Chicks’ most iconic songs, “Goodbye Earl,” this “some of y’all don’t know what happened to Earl and it shows” tee is the ultimate gift for fans of early 2000s country. And any woman. Period.
These are affordable and cute cowboy boots with suede uppers and block heels. Cute and comfy cowboy boots are hard to come by, but these fit the bill and then some.
True country fans know that image is everything. That’s where these beauties come in. With authentic Western charm and intricate woven details, these boots aren’t just made for walking. They’re made for turning heads.
This is an official Morgan Wallen tee. The tee comes in nine colors and sizes for men, women, youth and girls. There are even sizing options for taller folks.
He’s one of country music’s biggest names and his massive Still The Problem Tour is underway, so what better time to treat the country fan in your life to a Morgan Wallen tee? Emblazoned with the superstar and his guitar in classic black and white, it’s a simple way to pay homage to the “Last Night” singer. And not a chair in sight.
If you don’t want to wear a cowboy hat, this is the next best option. The hat comes in this distressed gray fabric with bold white lettering on the front.
Look, not everyone is cut out for a Stetson. If you’re here for the country but not the costume, this hat just might be the perfect fit. It’s a great look for an outdoor concert or a top-down, wind-in-your-hair solo performance on the highway. Because you don’t have to look the part to sound it.
This wall-hanging neon sign makes reference to Toby Keith’s song “Red Solo Cup.” The sign is red with hints of white.
Pay tribute to one of country music’s most beloved lost cowboys. Known for hits like “How Do You Like Me Now,” “I Love This Bar,” and, obviously, “Red Solo Cup,” Toby Keith was a musical legend gone too soon. This neon sign with a not-so-subtle nod to one of his most beloved songs is the ultimate gift for any true-blue (or red) fan.
The Story of Country is a children’s book meant to teach little ones about country music’s biggest names. The book is currently 33% off on Amazon.
Start ’em young with The Story of Country. This picture book teaches future country fans all about the greats. From Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash to Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks, it tells the story of the genre through adorable cartoons. Plus, its pages are thick, so even a tough-as-nails toddler won’t be able to rip it to shreds.
This V-neck tee is a vintage-inspired style and reads “I Got a Heart Like a Truck.” The tee makes reference to Lainey Wilson’s song “Heart Like a Truck.”
Lainey Wilson fans, this one’s for you! Grab your favorite bell-bottoms and pair them with this lyric tee from her hit “Heart Like a Truck.” Adorned with the image of a cowboy, his trusty steed, and his trusty pickup, it captures Lainey’s vibe to a T. Literally.
This is a shot glass shaped like a cowboy boot. This is a singular one oz. glass, but you can also buy this shot glass in a set.
Sometimes you just need to let off a little cowboy-themed steam. What better way to do that than by blaring some classic country tunes and taking shots out of a glass cowboy boot? Fancy yourself a lightweight? Don’t worry, this cutie little shot glass isn’t life-sized. It’s a perfect one-ounce shot of whatever you wet your whistle.
Little Golden Book has a ton of children’s biographies on musicians, including this one on Willie Nelson. This book is also available for Kindle.
What’s naptime without the origin story of everyone’s favorite redheaded stranger? This adorable Little Golden Book teaches kids (and adults) the inspiring story of Willie Nelson. Read all about how the “On the Road Again” singer has always stayed true to himself by making the music he loves, dressing the way he wants, and getting involved with charitable causes that matter most to him.
This tee reads “Country Music and Beer That’s Why I’m Here.” The style comes in a multitude of colors and sizes, from small to XXL.
Nothing goes better with country music than an ice-cold beer. And if you don’t believe us, just listen to one of the hundreds of country songs about it. This t-shirt is a great gift for the country music concertgoer looking to up their show wardrobe and their drinking game. Just make sure they’re 21 and over.
This tote features a motif on the front meant to look like country star Orville Peck’s mask that he constantly wears.
Unmask the alt-country fan in your life. These Orville Peck tote bags pay tribute to the genre’s most mysterious man with a one-of-a-kind design showcasing his signature fringe facial covering. We may never see his face, but his likeness is impossible to mistake—just like his voice.
This guitar rack is made out of a wine barrel, mixing country music and alcohol. The rack varies in price based on the size of the rack.
“Strawberry Wine.” “Dust on the Bottle.” “Hide the Wine.” Country music is ripe with songs about vino. So, it’s only fitting to hang a six-string on a rack made from a wine barrel. This one, from artist Brad Evans, is made from reclaimed oak barrel staves (the curved planks that make up the barrel’s sides) used in Napa Valley wine production, each with its own one-of-a-kind patina and endearing imperfections. The next great songwriter might just finish up a bottle of red and pluck their guitar from this rack to write the next big country hit.
This tee features a graphic of Hank Williams Jr. alongside the quote “‘Cause You See I’m a Dinosaur.”
Hank Williams Jr. made some pretty bold statements on his controversial song “Dinosaur” in 1980. But we’re more inspired by up-and-coming queer country artist Adam Mac’s version, in which he reclaims the lyrics for a whole new audience. But both versions make this shirt a great gift—whether for the dinosaur in your life or the new country fan who’s here to make a bold statement of their own.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2026-04-20 19:41:192026-04-20 19:41:1920 Gifts for Country Music Lovers That Will Make Them Say ‘Yee-Haw!’
