“Nightingale Lane.,” the new single from RAYE, tops this week’s fan-voted music poll.

Fans voted in a poll published Friday (Feb. 27) on Billboard, choosing the singer’s just-released ballad as their favorite fresh tune of the week.

“Nightingale Lane.” made its arrival among various new music releases — from hitmakers BLACKPINK, Bruno Mars and more. RAYE’s emotional song had the edge over BLACKPINK’s new DEADLINE EP (which landed in second place). As the poll came to a close on Sunday, the crooner’s lead held steady, with her new ballad taking 43% of the vote.

“Nightingale Lane.” offers a glimpse at RAYE’s sophomore album, This Music May Contain Hope, scheduled for a March 27 release via Human Re Sources. RAYE’s new song release was complemented with a video that showcased a stirring live performance backed by an orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.

“I guess I’m in the process of making medicine for myself that I can share with the world,” the vocalist said in a press statement announcing the LP. “I want us all to say to ourselves that it’s going to be all right, and I’m going to have faith in the seeds that I’ve planted beneath the snow. I wanted to create something that is a hug, bed or soft place for that person who needs it.”

At the 2026 BRIT Awards held in Manchester, England, on Saturday night (Feb. 28), RAYE demonstrated her range in a performance combining “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” with her brand-new ballad.

Among the new releases trailing behind “Nightingale Lane.” are BLACKPINK’s DEADLINE EP, Bruno Mars’ The Romantic album and Towa Bird’s single “Gentleman.”

See the final results of this week’s poll below.

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.

Whether you’re introducing your little ones to your favorite artists or trying to keep them occupied on the plane, there’s an increasing number of reasons as to why it’s worth buying headphones for your kids.

While most adults use headphones for listening to music or for taking calls at work, the latest children’s headphones often do double duty, as a way for kids to tune into entertainment, but often also working to protect their hearing. Unlike regular headphones, which allow users to turn up the bass — or beats — on full blast, most children’s headphones are tuned at or below 85 decibels, which is considered to be a safe threshold for hearing protection. Even if you’re not playing music through them, the ear muffs themselves can also be used to protect your child’s ears say, if you’re bringing them to a music festival or loud concert.

Children’s headphones are also specifically designed to fit their smaller head shapes and cover their smaller ears, ensuring a more comfortable and secure experience over trying to tighten and adjust a pair of adult headphones on those pint-sized noggins.

Perhaps most importantly, the best kids headphones are designed with durability in mind, so they can take those accidental dings and drops without affecting functionality. Note: we’ve rounded up both wired and wireless headphones for kids, the latter of which eliminate the hassle and potential danger of getting tied up in cords and cables. All you need is a Bluetooth connection to begin pairing these headphones to your phone, tablet, computer or TV screen.

BEST OVERALL

Belkin SoundForm Mini Kids Wireless Headphones w/Built-in Microphone

Recommended age: 10-15

$36.99

Buy Now On Amazon

I’ve personally used and tested a number of pairs of Belkin headphones over the years, so when I spotted these kids headphones from the audio brand, I knew I had to pick them up.

---

While I don’t have kids, I bought them for my 10-year-old cousin, who now loves using these “mini” headphones for school and watching videos online. The kids headphones feature the same audio tech that Belkin has put into its grown-up products, including crisp sound (with volume limited to 85dB), easy pairing via the Bluetooth 5.3 standard, and up to 30 hours of playback time on a single charge. In a rush? A quick ten-minute charge gets you up to three hours of battery life.

Aside from listening to music and watching content, a built-in microphone lets your kids use these headphones to take video calls with family, or play video games together with friends online.

This set includes the headphones (in your choice of six colors), charging cables, hard-shell travel case and a sheet of fun and colorful stickers. This is one of the best-reviewed headphones for kids online, with more than 81% of shoppers giving the Belkin SoundForm Mini a full five-star review.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

BuddyPhone PopTime Bluetooth Headphones

Recommended ages: 8-15

$38.99

Buy Now On Amazon

These children’s headphones were created exclusively for Amazon and come in a bright blue or purple color with a set of decorative stickers that kids can use to personalize the cups.

---

The headphones come with two listening settings: a Safe Mode (at 85dB) and a POP Mode (at 94dB), the latter of which is better for tweens and teens, per the manufacturer.

The Bluetooth headphones get up to 19 hours of playtime on a single charge — more than enough for a long flight or road trip. What we like: the cushy earpads are removable and washable, while the durable casing and headband wipe down easily with a damp cloth. The headphones are super lightweight and fold down for easy packing.

This set comes with the PopTime Headphones, USB C charging cable, a cable for wired audio (if you want to plug in), a travel bag and a sheet of stickers.

EASY TO USE

Nenos Kids Headphones

Recommended ages: 3-8

$16.99

Buy Now On Amazon

These wired headphones plug in easily to a laptop or tablet to keep your little ones occupied while traveling or if they’re starting to do their homework online.

---

A number of our Billboard staffers’ kids use these headphones too, with one editor praising them for being “super cheap and functional.” Amazon has the headphones for under $20 and available in six different colors. In addition to the memory foam-style earpads, the headband is also lightweight and adjustable, ensuring a comfortable fit. Manufacturer Nenos says these are “volume-limited” headphones too, though they don’t specify what decibel level the volume is capped at.

Still, these are an easy pickup, especially when traveling. “I definitely need wired [headphones] since we use them exclusively for airplane seat-back screens,” Billboard editor Katie Atkinson shares. “We’ve had no issues with them so far.”

The Nenos children’s headphones have a 4.5-star rating (out of five) from more than 11,000 verified reviewers online.

CUTE DESIGN

FosPower Kids Headphones with LED Cat Ears

Recommended age: 4-12

$15.96 $19.99 20% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Atkinson’s daughter loves these headphones, which feature a light-up cat ear design in your choice of nine fun and funky colorways.

---

The headphones offer both wired and wireless connection options and audio is capped at a kid-safe volume of 85dB. There are thick earpads and a padded headband for extra comfort, while reviewers say the laced cable design ensures “fewer tangles.”

Of course what your kids will like most about these headphones are the fun LED lights, which can be set to stay on or flash with your music.

BEST AUDIO

Puro Sound Labs JuniorJam Plus Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for Kids

Recommended age: 10-16

$65.00

Buy Now On Amazon

Let’s face it: not all kids will want the cheap and colorful headphones, especially if they’re starting to head into junior high and high school. That’s why we like these grown-up looking cans from Puro Sound Labs.

---

Made with real leather earpads and a stainless steel-style band, the JuniorJam headphones offer easy wireless connectivity and up to 22 hours of listening time per charge. And while the kids headphones limit the volume to under 85 decibels, it doesn’t take away from the pristine sound quality, which lets you hear every note, drum beat and whistle in crystal clear form. A bonus: Puro Sound Labs says the earpads help to isolate up to 87% of ambient noise, so kids can immerse themselves in the music — or wear these when they want to tune out and chill out.

This set includes the luxe-looking headphones (available in six colors), drawstring storage bag, charging cables and a “Daisy Chain” sharing cable that lets you pair two headphones to the same device.

FUN & FUNCTIONAL

AILIHEN C8 Headphones

Recommended for all ages

$20.99 $29.98 30% off

Buy Now On Amazon

For an overall reliable and affordable pair of children’s headphones, Amazon has this AILIHEN C8 model, which comes in more than a dozen fun color combinations and designs. Amazon says more than 3,000 shoppers have purchased these cups in the last month alone, making them one of the bestselling pairs of kids headphones online.

---

The headphones have cushy, breathable earpads and a super flexible headband that’s adjustable to fit head sizes as they grow. Reviewers also praise the durability of these headphones, noting that they are easy to clean and hold up to hours of use without getting too hot or sweaty. These are wired, over-ear headphones that can be used for school, travel or just enjoying music and movies at home. The braided cable has a built-in remote control that you can use to adjust volume, switch tracks and more.

These children’s headphones have a 4.4-star rating (out of five) from a whopping 34,000 reviewers online. See more details at Amazon.com.

BEST FOR HEARING PROTECTION

ZOHAN Kids Noise Cancelling Headphones (Two-Pack)

Recommended for all ages

$25.99

Buy Now On Amazon

If you’re just looking for kids earphones to protect their hearing, Amazon has this two-pack of noise cancelling earmuffs, that can help block out loud sounds from fireworks, cars or live music, while also acting as a way to help kids zone out on planes and long car rides.

---

Manufacturer ZOHAN says the headphones have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 25 decibels, which should be fine for everyday situations (for reference: gun ranges recommend a NRR of 30dB or higher).

Note that these headphones aren’t for playing music but rather to protect hearing. They won’t completely block out noise of course, so kids should still be able to hear their environment and hear music playing around them, only at a safer level for their ears.

Pioneering hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame during the organization’s 57th annual ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday evening (Feb. 28).

Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper — the first female rap group to achieve platinum certification and win a Grammy Award — were presented with their award by fellow rap trailblazer MC Lyte.

“I’m a longtime friend with the group, and I came up with them,” Lyte said. “They influenced me and so many others in our careers. They showed all of us that we could stand toe to toe with any roughneck.”

Speaking first after the group received their statuettes following a standing ovation, Salt eschewed a planned acceptance speech (“I don’t have my glasses.”) She opted instead to rap — much to the star-filled audience’s head-nodding delight — and proved she hasn’t lost her signature flow.

“Here’s to my kings and my queens,” Salt began. “Hip-hop and rap fiends. I ain’t talking pipes. I’m talking about rap dreams. I can’t breathe. All I see is hands and white knees. 2025 came and went like lightning. Time moving way too fast. It’s frightening. Let’s move like Spike Lee and do the right thing. They smile in your face while putting a knife in. Backstabbers. Can’t stand them … Let there be voices. Sing, kiss the ring. Here’s to my melanin kings; they exchange strange fruit for yellow tape and chalk lines. How many murders? How many of us lost lives? How many lies, how many cries, how many rallies? Yea, though I walk through the valley on that rap tip like catfish on grits, like ’80s hip-hop. Pump your fists, like this.”

Noting the award “represents longevity, resilience and sisterhood,” Pepa remarked, “When we first started, there wasn’t any blueprint for women like us in hip-hop. We were told to compete, we were told to conform. We were told to make ourselves smaller in the room. But we chose to stand together and to stay true to who we are. So this award is really for the women that came before us. It’s for the women standing beside us. It’s for the women coming next, and it’s for every female MC who was ever underestimated but never silenced.”

Over the course of their three-decade+ career, Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella released a string of enduring hits and cultural anthems such as “Push It,” “Shoop,” “Whatta Man” (with En Vogue) and “Let’s Talk About Sex.” Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025, the group was previously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.

“We didn’t know we were building a movement,” added Spinderella of the NAACP honor. “We were just being ourselves. Looking back, we changed what women in hip-hop were allowed to be. We normalized women owning their voice. We talked about independence, expression, relationships, sex, confidence, standards, openly and unapologetically, and the visuals: the fashion, the hair, the choreography, the attitude.

“We were feminine without shrinking; bold without apology,” she continued . “We made it clear that fun, fashion and femininity had a place in hip-hop and our songs. They weren’t just hits. They sparked conversations. And we didn’t just entertain. We connected. When I look at the generations that came after us — they’re so confident, so bold, so message-driven, so powerful — I smile. I’m so proud. Now I understand what we built wasn’t just music; it was a movement. We are Salt-N-Pepa. We are sisterhood.”

Aired via BET, CBS and across the Paramount networks, the NAACP Image Awards also presented special honors to Viola Davis (chairman’s award) and Colman Domingo (president’s award). Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) won the entertainer of the year award, presented by Lionel Richie. That category’s other nominees included Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Teyana Taylor and Cynthia Erivo. See the full winners list here.

Returning as host, actor/comedian Deon Cole, a three-time Image Award winner, helmed the two-hour celebration, which featured no musical performances. He kept the ceremony lively and colorful, covering everything from blasting ICE to roasting Nicki Minaj in a playful prayer on behalf of several entertainers.

Police say Cher’s son was arrested on Friday (Feb. 27) after acting belligerently at an elite private high school in New Hampshire, of which he has no association.

Elijah Blue Allman, 49, was booked into the Merrimack County Jail and charged with four misdemeanors: two counts of simple assault, criminal trespass and criminal threatening. Allman, whose father was the late Gregg Allman, was also charged with a violation of disorderly conduct, which is illegal in the state but not considered a crime.

At about 7 p.m. that day, Concord police responded to reports that Allman was disturbing people in the dining hall of St. Paul’s School. After charging Allman, police said he was released on bail as his case works through the court system.

Allman has no apparent connection to the school, and it remains unclear why he was there, sources tell TMZ. He primarily resides in Southern California.

Attorney information for Allman was not available in court records.

A representative for Cher was not immediately available. St. Paul’s School declined to comment.

An investigation is ongoing.

In June 2025, Allman was hospitalized following an overdose at his home after authorities responded to reports of erratic behavior. Drugs were later discovered at the residence, according to TMZ. The incident occurred roughly two months after his wife, Marieangela King, filed for divorce following 13 years of marriage.

Cher sought a conservatorship over her son in 2023, alleging he was “substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues.” She also claimed King had interfered with his efforts to seek treatment, TMZ reported. The case was dismissed in late 2024.

Jean-Michel Jarre is playing Ibiza for the first time this summer.

The French composer and producer has announced an exclusive live performance at Amnesia on Sunday, July 5th — his first ever show on the island.

The date falls during Amnesia’s 50th anniversary year and is billed as an Ibiza exclusive, making it one of the more unexpected and significant live announcements to come out of the island’s summer calendar in some time.

For an artist whose career has been defined by scale — past performances have taken place at the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Tiananmen Square, Pompeii, Masada, and the Sahara Desert, often in front of audiences numbering in the millions — the booking represents a deliberately intimate setting.

Amnesia’s legendary Terrace will host the show, putting Jarre in a room that operates on an entirely different dimension to the grand outdoor spectacles he is best known for.

“Amnesia is a trip — an escape from time. No past, no future, just the intensity of the moment,” Jarre said. “That space of freedom is where my music has always lived. I’m thrilled to do my very first Ibiza concert at Amnesia to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the club.”

It is a striking choice of words from an artist who has spent over five decades at the frontier of electronic music. Jarre has released 22 studio albums and sold over 85 million records worldwide, and has long been a pioneer in multi-channel audio, VR, and the metaverse.

The show arrives at a meaningful moment for Amnesia, which is marking its 50th anniversary this summer with a season of programming designed to reflect the club’s place in dance music history. Securing Jarre for his island debut fits squarely into that ambition.

Support on the night comes from Berlin-based artist Joplyn, who performs live. Blending ethereal vocals with cinematic electronic production, her set will open the evening before Jarre takes the Terrace. Les Schmitz — an Amnesia resident since 2003 and a figure deeply woven into the club’s culture — will also play a DJ set, guiding the crowd into the night ahead of the headline performance.

Tickets are on sale now.