Bondi Beach New Year’s Eve Parties Are Canceled After Fatal Shootings

A massive New Year’s Eve party planned for Sydney’s Bondi Beach has been canceled following the mass shooting last weekend.

Elrow XXL Bondi Beach was pitched as Sydney’s largest NYE party and the “soundtrack to farewell 2025,” featuring exclusive performances from HoneyLuv, Kölsch, TSHA, William Kiss and more, and a special countdown set from Patrick Topping.

Organizers expected 15,000 revelers to visit Australia’s most iconic shoreline, to see in the new year, the 25th since Fuzzy opened for business.

However, following the tragic events that unfolded last Sunday, Dec. 14, organizers Fuzzy have scrapped the show.

“Our hearts are with everyone affected by the tragedy at Bondi Beach. What happened has deeply shaken our community and all who call this place home,” reads a statement from Fuzzy, the organizers of Field Day, Harbourlife and more.

“We have been working closely with Waverley Council over the past couple of days, focusing on compassion and care for Sydney’s Jewish community and all those impacted, allowing NSW Police to further progress their investigations.”

As a result, elrow Bondi Beach XXL and Locals Lawn Family Zone will not be going ahead.

All ticketholders have now been contacted via email and elrow Bondi Beach XXL ticketholders will receive an automatic full refund, processed back to their original payment method within seven business days.

“Our team includes many who live in and love Bondi. We built these events to reflect everything Bondi stands for: community, coming together, joy, connection and inclusivity. We know thousands from our community, Australia, and abroad were looking forward to seeing New Year’s Eve return to Bondi Beach for the first time in over a decade, but in Bondi we look out for each other, especially in moments of heartbreak,” reads the statement from Fuzzy, part of Superstruct Entertainment. “When the time is right, we will come back together with the same spirit of care, connection and joy that defines us.”

The country has been in a state of mourning following the attack, when two gunmen fired weapons at a Hanukkah celebration, in what would become Australia’s worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre in the 1990s. The death toll has risen to 16, including one of the suspected gunmen, who was killed at the scene.

Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an act of antisemitic terrorism and the New South Wales Parliament will be recalled in the week before Christmas to tighten gun and protest laws.

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Nate Bargatze Is First Spoken Word Artist Inducted Into SoundExchange Hall of Fame

Funnyman Nate Bargatze receives the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award, becoming the first spoken word artist to do so.

With the award, Bargatze, a SoundExchange member since 2012, is recognized as one of the most-streamed comedians in the organization’s 20-plus year history of administering digital performance royalties.

“It meant the world to me to be the first comic awarded this recognition,” comments Bargatze, who hosted the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in September on CBS. “I have been such a proponent of SoundExchange throughout my career and I didn’t realize this award was even possible! This is a really, really special honor. Thank you.”

The comedian, actor, producer, and New York Times Best-Selling author had them rolling in the aisles this year with his Big Dumb trek, which topped Billboard Boxscore results for a comedy tour over several months.

More dates are scheduled on the Big Dumb Eyes World Tour, picking back up in January with shows currently scheduled throughout North America through August 2026.

“Nate Bargatze has an extraordinary gift for turning life’s simplest moments into unforgettable comedy with a delivery that feels effortless and genuine,” enthuses Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “His storytelling reminds us that the funniest parts of life are often the ones we overlook. We are immensely proud to honor Nate Bargatze with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”

With his elevation, Bargatze joins Hall of Fame inductees Billy Joel, Janelle Monáe, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Marc Anthony and others.

“From digital streaming platforms to sold-out arenas,” reads a SoundExchange post on Bargatze’s honor, “thanks for bringing laughs and smiles to audiences all over.”

Since 2003, SoundExchange has collected and distributed more than $12 billion in digital performance royalties to date on behalf of more than 700,000 music creators. In addition to U.S. non-interactive streaming royalties, the organization notes, Bargatze is among upwards of 474,000 artists and rights owners who’ve tapped SoundExchange to collect their international royalties.

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Role Model to Headline 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic

Role Model gets his skates on for the National Hockey League’s premier outdoor game.

The rising alternative-pop artist will headline the entertainment for the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami, FL, set for Jan. 2, 2026.

On the day, two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers, with all the action televised live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max in the United States, and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.

According to a statement from the league, Role Model will lead the first intermission, presented by Ticketmaster, with a performance from his hit sophomore album Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye).

Before that, he’ll open NHL on TNT’s live on-site coverage with a performance on the Verizon Stage at the 2026 Enterprise NHL PreGame, the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic gameday fan festival, which welcomes ticket holders for the annual NHL Winter Classic — the first to be played in Florida.

Role Model (real name: Tucker Pillsbury) enjoyed a breakthrough this year when he topped a songs-based Billboard chart for the first time, leading the Sept. 13-dated Adult Alternative Airplay tally with “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out,” housed by Kansas Anymore.

Earlier, in August, the Cape Elizabeth, Maine, “Sally” went to No. 1 on the Emerging Artists tally.

Following the March release of Kansas Anymore, Role Model signed with the Good World Management’s Brandon Creed and Dani Russin; opened on tour for Gracie Abrams; and celebrated two sold-out shows in Los Angeles, one of which saw Reneé Rapp join him on stage as a surprise guest during “Sally.”

He’ll make his acting debut in the Lena Dunham-directed Netflix romcom Good Sex, starring Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman, the release date for which hasn’t been announced.

The Winter Classic was established in 2008 as a regular-season outdoor game to celebrate the New Year, and has featured performances by the likes of Weezer, Chance The Rapper, The Smashing Pumpkins, Heart, the Black Keys and many others.

Visit Ticketmaster for more.

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‘He Never Failed to Deliver’: Duran Duran Remembers ‘Visionary’ Fashion Designer Antony Price

Duran Duran and its founding keyboardist Nick Rhodes have remembered the late fashion designer Antony Price as an “important collaborator from the very beginning,” and a “visionary” who played an important part in the band’s look and iconic music videos.

A maverick British designer who also shaped the style of David Bowie, Roxy Music, Mick Jagger, and more recently, Queen Camilla, Price died on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the age of 80.

In a post penned by Rhodes, and shared on Duran Duran’s official social channels, the British musician recounts how Price paired vision with “extraordinary technical skills. Nobody did glam better than Antony.”

Perhaps most significantly for the Rock Hall-inducted band, Price “conceived and designed all of the pastel colored silk suits we wore in the ‘Rio’ video,” the title track from the band’s celebrated sophomore album.

“His distinctive creations were unique and striking,” writes Rhodes. “Whilst he rarely received the recognition he deserved from the fashion media, his notable clientele and many other designers all knew Antony was a genius, a cut above the rest.”

Born in Keighley, Yorkshire in 1945, Antony Price studied at Bradford School of Art and, later, the Royal College of Art’s Fashion School, graduating in 1968. The following year, in 1969, Mick Jagger wore a pair of his body-hugging trousers for the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter tour of the United States, marking the first time his designs had been worn by a rock star.

The music community loved his work.

Price would go on to style all eight of Roxy Music’s album covers, and designed the t-shirt that appears on the back cover of Lou Reed’s 1972 classic album Transformer. Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry described Price as “a master craftsman” and “one of the most remarkably gifted people I have ever met.”

Like many of the chameleonic artists he worked with, Price’s talents couldn’t be stifled. He was adept at expressing his art with womenswear, working with the likes of Kylie Minogue and Jerry Hall, who wore a Price wedding dress when she married Mick Jagger.

“He never failed to deliver,” writes Duran Duran’s Rhodes. “His swan song fashion show, just a few weeks ago was as spectacular and relevant as the first one I ever saw.”

More than all of this, he writes, “Antony was a loyal, kind, intelligent and razor-witted, friend.”

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John Williamson Pays Tribute to Bondi Beach Shooting Victims With Emotional ‘True Blue’ Performance

As Australia processes the shock of Sunday’s mass shooting on Bondi Beach, John Williamson has used song to help heal the nation.

The ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted singer, songwriter and “bush music” legend sang “True Blue” for a full house at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in dedication to the victims of the massacre.

The powerful musical moment happened prior to day one of the third Test cricket match in the 2025-26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval.

Williamson later remarked that he “was so relieved and so honored” to perform the song in remembrance to those whose lives were lost.

Speaking with the Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Williamson said he canceled his Christmas holiday plans on the Gold Coast to dash to the South Australian capital. “It’ll be one of the most memorable occasions for me in my career,” he tells the ABC. “I was sort of waking up this morning thinking, was it a dream? That’s how incredible it was for me.”

He added, “for me to perform it, I really had to be a professional and do the job that I had to do. I didn’t allow myself to be too emotional. I just wanted to make sure that I sang it strongly. Because I knew what I was doing (was so important).”

In a career spanning more than 50 years, the 80-year-old has sold more than 5 million albums and accumulated upwards of one billion streams. Over time, he has collected 28 Golden Guitar awards, four ARIA Awards, and on Australia Day 1992, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for service to Australian country music and in stimulating awareness of conservation issues.” Williamson performed at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and in 2010 he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Since its release in 1982, “True Blue” song has become part of the fabric of Australian culture, and is regularly played at sporting events and ceremonies, including Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin’s public memorial service, where he performed it twice on acoustic guitar, and for the funeral of Williamson’s late “mate,” the broadcaster John Laws.

Williamson has, in the past, called “True Blue” a “song for all Australians.”

The country has been in a state of mourning following the attack, when two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration. The death toll from the attack has risen to 16, including one of the suspected gunmen, who was killed at the scene.

Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an act of antisemitic terrorism and the New South Wales Parliament will be recalled in the week before Christmas to tighten gun and protest laws.

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Jane’s Addiction Signals Truce: ‘We Have Come Together One Last Time to Resolve Our Differences’

Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell and his bandmates are making peace amid a messy legal battle stemming from an onstage brawl last year, publicly apologizing to each other and saying they’ll now focus on “separate musical and creative endeavors.”

Farrell posted a contrite Instagram statement on Wednesday (Dec. 17), while Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins simultaneously extended an olive branch on the band’s official page. The trio had sued Farrell in July for assaulting Navarro during a Boston show in 2024, and Farrell hit back with a lawsuit of his own that accused his bandmates of bullying him and spreading a false narrative about the incident.

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There’s no word yet of an official settlement ending the dueling lawsuits, though court documents say the band members participated in a mediation session last month. The language of the Instagram posts suggests a reconciliation — and seems to confirm that Jane’s Addiction is no more.

“Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane’s Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together,” reads the post on the band’s page. “We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors. Jane’s Addiction will forever live in our hearts.”

In another sign that a settlement could be on the horizon, both of these Instagram posts apologize for key allegations in the legal feud. Farrell, for his part, says he’s “truly sorry” for the September 2024 incident on stage, during which Navarro claims the lead singer punched him unprovoked.

“I’ve reflected on it and know I didn’t handle myself the way I should have,” writes Farrell. “I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and disrupting the show.”

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In his counter-lawsuit, Farrell had accused his bandmates of canceling the rest of the 2024 tour without his input and unfairly making him the “scapegoat” for their lost profits. Navarro, Avery and Perkins address this in their Instagram post, too.

“We would like to clarify the events surrounding the cancellation of the tour after the show in Boston in September 2024,” write the band members. “After that show, without notice to Perry, we unilaterally determined it would be best to not continue the tour and made inaccurate statements about Perry’s mental health which we regret.”

Legal reps for the band members did not return requests for comment. Their attorneys are currently scheduled to appear before a judge for a case update next month.

The onstage brawl in Boston, which went viral thanks to a fan video, was a key inflection point derailing Jane’s Addiction’s first tour as a full group since 2010. They were working at the time on a new album under a distribution deal with Warner Music’s ADA. It now appears unlikely that the project will be completed.


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How Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw 2025 Avoided Burning Thousands of Gallons of Diesel Fuel

A flurry of initiatives at Camp Flog Gnaw 2025 helped make it one of the most sustainable editions of the fest to date.

For the second year in a row, Camp Flog Gnaw incorporated clean power solutions across its site at the Dodger Stadium Grounds in Los Angeles during the Nov. 22-23 fest, which featured headliners Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky, Childish Gambino, Doechii and Clipse.

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These projects were done in collaboration with Camp Flog Gnaw producers AEG Presents and Goldenvoice, along with the longstanding sustainability nonprofit REVERB, which consults on sustainability initiatives across the music industry, with a focus on touring and live events.

A representative for REVERB tells Billboard that the festival’s Gnaw Stage was powered entirely by stadium shore power, which pulled electricity already available from Dodger Stadium’s grid power connection and entirely eliminated the use of diesel generators at the stage. The use of shore power also reduced on-site equipment and simplified production logistics. The rep noted that this power method demonstrated that where permanent electrical infrastructure exists, grid power can be a reliable and lower-impact alternative to traditional generator-based stage power.

Meanwhile, the festival’s main stage was powered by a battery-first diesel hybrid system, with diesel-powered generators on site only as a backup power source. Battery, solar and shore power systems also supported the main entrance and box offices, merchandise, food operations and other site infrastructure.

Overall, these initiatives resulted in the avoidance of 76.5 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, a number equivalent to the emissions from 18 gasoline-powered vehicles being driven for a year. They also resulted in the avoidance of using roughly 7,496 gallons of diesel fuel.

These initiatives were similar to those introduced at the 2024 edition of the Portola festival, which is also produced by AEG and Goldenvoice and which, in 2024, avoided using 6,053 gallons of diesel fuel.


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Stevie Wonder Cancels House Full of Toys Benefit Concert: ‘Big Idea, Little Time’

To celebrate the 26th edition of his House Full of Toys holiday benefit concert, Stevie Wonder said in a promo video that he was “switching things up.” Instead of performing for one night, the 25-time Grammy-winning legend would perform across four nights — Dec. 18, 19, 20 and 21 — at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, however, Wonder is canceling his “big idea” owing to “little time” — with plans to present the benefit concert again next year.

In a statement Wonder read on his L.A. radio station KJLH, he explained, “A week and a half ago I came up with the idea of doing four nights at the Fonda Theatre to raise money for House Full of Toys. Big idea. Little time. So because of that little time, I’ve decided to cancel all four shows. Yet still I will this year put my money where my heart is by giving a substantial donation for the children for House Full of Toys. And next year, we will again do House Full of Toys with the big idea and enough time to put it together.”

People who purchased tickets are being emailed about refunds.

As per tradition, Wonder’s annual benefit concert asks that attendees bring an “unwrapped toy or unwrapped gift of joy.” Presented by the singer/songwriter’s nonprofit We Are You Foundation, House Full of Toys helps assist children, people with disabilities and families in need.

In past years, House Full of Toys has welcomed performers such as Lionel Richie, Queen Latifah, Jazmine Sullivan, Anderson .Paak and Ella Mai in addition to Wonder. The 2024 edition of House Full of Toys — tied to Wonder’s “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour that year — featured Jon Batiste, Lucky Daye and El DeBarge.

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The Viral Squishmallows Advent Calendar Gets Pre-Holiday Price Drop (and Arrives by Christmas)

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.

Year after year, the Squishmallows holiday-themed advent calendars first, go viral, and then, sell out. And while a number of the brand’s 2025 seasonal collectibles are already out of stock, its coveted 24-Day Micromallows Holiday Advent Calendars is not only still available (in very limited quantities, that is), but also, on sale at Amazon.

Squishmallows Original 24-Day Micromallows Holiday Advent Calendar

Squishmallows Original 24-Day Micromallows Holiday Advent Calendar

$90 $127.99 30% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Save $37.99.

The countdown calendar includes 24 plush holiday favorites — Nick Santa Claus, Manny Snowman and more — in 2.5-inch micro versions, otherwise known as Micromallows.

Tonymoly x Squishmallows Advent Calendar 2025

Tonymoly x Squishmallows Advent Calendar 2025

$21.25 $25 15% off

Buy now on amazon

Enjoy hand cream, lip gloss, sheet masks and more.

For the collectors in your life that double as beauty enthusiasts, Squishmallows collaborated with K-beauty brand Tonymoly on a seven-day skincare calendar that marries Tonymoly’s fan-favorite formulas with Cam the Cat, Malcolm The Mushroom and other beloved characters. It’s also 15 percent off on Amazon, while supplies last.

iJoy Squishmallows Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones

iJoy Squishmallows Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones

$24.99 $27.99 11% off

Buy now on amazon

Wireless, foldable and available in two colorways.

iJoy Squishmallows Bluetooth Earbuds With Charging Case

iJoy Squishmallows Bluetooth Earbuds With Charging Case

$27.99

Buy now on amazon

Decorated with characters like Cam the Cat, Patty the Cow and Carl the Cheeseburger.

Squishmallows Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Squishmallows Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

$17.99

Buy now on amazon

Splash-proof.

Now, for the collector that doubles as a music fan, electronic brand iJoy teamed up with Squishmallows on a wireless Bluetooth speaker, Bluetooth earbuds (with charging case) and Bluetooth over-ear wireless headphones, all retailing for under $30.

Squishmallows Original Nick the Santa Claus in Red Hawaiian Shirt

Squishmallows Original Nick the Santa Claus in Red Hawaiian Shirt

$19.99

Buy now on amazon

The large plush measures 14 inches.

Another 2025 favorite includes the Official Holiday Plush, Nick the Santa Claus in Red Hawaiian Shirt ($19.99). While it’s completely sold out on the company’s website, the 14-inch Santa stuffed toy is still in stock on Amazon.

Tonymoly x Squishmallows Head to Toe Holiday Mask Set

Tonymoly x Squishmallows Head to Toe Holiday Mask Set

$13 $15 13% off

Buy now on amazon

Brightening, hydrating, moisturizing, rejuvenating and soothing.

Squishmallows Original Micromallows Plush Birthday Countdown 7-Pack

Squishmallows Original Micromallows Plush Birthday Countdown 7-Pack

$14.12 $15.99 12% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Get seven 2.5-inch micro plushes.

To wrap things up, a couple more discounted finds include the Squishmallows Original Micromallows Plush Birthday Countdown 7-Pack ($12.49 $15.99), and the Tonymoly x Squishmallows Head to Toe Holiday Mask Set ($13 $15).

The K-beauty brand’s holiday mask kit has five limited-edition targeted treatments featuring characters Benny, Cam, Sunny, Wendy and Malcolm. Each face, body and eye mask has a different benefit. Products include a hydrating coconut eye mask, a brightening vitamin C sheet mask, a calming mushroom sheet mask, a nourishing shea butter foot mask and a soothing calendula and chamomile sheet mask.

For more last-minute holiday present inspiration, check out Billboard‘s assortment of holiday gift guides here.

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Hear Dennis Ferrer’s Full Set From Time Warp USA 2025: ‘The Crowd Was Dancing Rather Than Filming’

Globe-trotting house and techno festival Time Warp made its way back to New York last month for a Nov. 21-22 edition at Brooklyn Storehouse. Among a bill featuring stars like Sven Väth, The Blessed Madonna, Mike Servito, Sara Landry and Nico Moreno was bonafide New York house legend Dennis Ferrer, who, after decades in the scene, made his debut at the festival.

“Finally popped my Time Warp cherry and it was beyond impressive!” Ferrer tells Billboard. “The production, the energy, but most of all, the crowd that was dancing rather than filming. One of the highlights of 2025 for sure!”

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Now, Ferrer is sharing his 90-minute Time Warp USA 2025 set exclusively with Billboard. Listening to it, it’s obvious why everyone on the floor kept their phones in pocket. While originally scheduled to play b2b with fellow house hero Kerri Chandler, Ferrer did the show solo after Chandler had to drop out, playing an hour and a half of joyful, scintillating, groovy house music.

Highlights from the set include As I Am’s slinky 2014 Defected Records release “Saving Grace,” Riva Starr’s bumping 2025 single “Unique” and Ian Pooley’s 2002 classic “Fly Shuffle.” Listen to the entire set exclusively below.

“’I’ll never do New York. America is not ready,’” Tekksupport founder Rob Toma recalled Time Warp founder Steffen Charles telling him when Toma first suggested doing an NYC edition. While it took a few years of conversations, Toma finally convinced Charles and his team to launch in the U.S., with Time Warp’s New York debut happening in 2014.

As with every previous edition, Time Warp USA 2025 was produced in partnership with Teksupport. Other editions of Time Warp happen in cities around the world including Miami, Madrid and São Paulo.

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