Drake showed love to everyone attending opening day ceremonies for Kai Cenat‘s Streamer University yesterday (July 15).

Cenat was speaking to the invitees during an assembly when he announced that he had a message from the Toronto rapper.

“2026, back for another year,” Drake said via video message. “Congratulations to everybody that got accepted — all the new creators, all the veteran creators. I hope you guys make the most of this opportunity. I hope you learn something. I hope you’re able to teach each other things.”

Drake added that his OVO team had provided gifts for this year’s attendees who are staying at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas through July 20. “And behalf of us at OVO, I left you something…well, actually I left you a few things in your room to make the stay even easier,” Drake told the excited streamers. “So, shout out to Kai, Streamer University 2026. Enjoy.”

Some of the items unboxxed by the Twitch streamers include cologne, Nike clothing and OVO merch.

This is the second year of the innovative streaming bootcamp. The first Streamer University, hosted at the University of Akron in Ohio, won best streamed event at the 2025 Streamer Awards and clocked upwards of 20 millions hours watched on Twitch.

During a stream last June, Cenat revealed that he had to take legal action in order to own the name and the intellectual property to Streamer University, so that no one would be able to steal or redo the idea in its current iteration. “For Streamer University, the idea was so big that I had to take legal action into owning the idea, owning the name and making it mine because it was influencing a lot of people to just redo it, redo it, redo it,” he told the chat in 2025. “But we had to secure it and we gotta make this sh-t special. Streamer University, have full ownership. The name itself, have full ownership.”

You can watch the full stream of Streamer University’s 2026 Opening Ceremony below.

Noah Kahan is once again lending his voice to ticketing reform in the U.S.

On Thursday (July 16), Massachusetts governor Maura Healey announced that she is introducing An Act Relative to Closing the Great Divide between Ticket Prices and Affordability, or The Great Divide Act, named after Kahan’s 2026 Billboard 200 No. 1 album The Great Divide. The proposed bill would cap resale prices of concert tickets at 110% of the price of the face value of the original ticket. It would also limit the service fees and charges that can be imposed by secondary ticketing platforms for both sporting and non-sporting events to no more than 10% of the total price of the ticket for resale.

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“Far too many Massachusetts residents have experienced the pain of being excited to buy tickets to see their favorite singer or sports team, only to realize that resale prices and fees have driven up the cost to outrageous levels,” said Governor Healey in a statement. “Or how about when you do purchase tickets from a reseller, only to get to the venue to realize the seller never actually transfers them to you? Enough is enough. We are taking action to lower ticket resale prices so Massachusetts fans can better afford to see their favorite performer or team.”

Kahan, who recently made history as the first artist ever to headline four consecutive sold-out shows at Fenway Park in Boston, virtually joined Healey’s press conference to announce the bill.

“I heard about what you’re announcing today, and I just wanted to let you know how excited I am about it,” Kahan said via video. “The artist community and fans will greatly benefit from limiting ticket scalping and the sales of speculative tickets. I love my fans and want to protect them however I can. Artists alone could not tackle the market manipulation of secondary resellers. So, thank you so much for making this a priority in Massachusetts.”

Kahan was also a vocal advocate for the passage of a similar bill in his home state of Vermont. That state’s governor, Phil Scott, signed a resale cap bill into law at the end of May, making it the second state in the country to pass such legislation following Maine. More than 20 other states have introduced ticketing consumer protection bills this year, and just this week, the Washington, D.C. Council passed the RESALE Act, which would regulate the ticketing market in the nation’s capital.

Under Governor Healey’s proposal, the resale cap would apply to all events unless an artist or venue explicitly authorizes a higher resale cap through a written agreement. The act would also ban the sale of speculative tickets (the practice of resellers listing tickets they don’t actually possess) and prohibit deceptive resale websites that falsely suggest they’re affiliated with artists or venues.

The Massachusetts bill will now move through the legislative process, where it will be considered by the state’s House and Senate before it can become law.


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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.

Sure, there are a number of popular Bluetooth speakers available to buy online these days, but a new DIY kit on Amazon is letting aspiring techies and curious audio curators build a wireless speaker for themselves.

This Bluetooth speaker kit combines STEM learning, sound engineering and hands-on assembly to build a brick-size wireless speaker that can actually be used to play music. Unlike an actual brick though, this portable speaker is super lightweight and can be taken around to play dates and parks alike, to keep the tunes moving.

DIY Bluetooth Speaker Kit

AUDIO ACTIVITY

DIY Bluetooth Speaker Kit

This Amazon set lets users build a portable Bluetooth speaker complete with built-in handle and 20 LED lights that pulse to your music.


Audio blares out from two cones and all the components are housed inside an acrylic shell. The best part: there is no gluing or soldering required, and everything you need to piece the speaker together is included in the box (note: you’ll need batteries, which are not included). Even the wiring is pre-fixed to individual boards, which just need to be snapped together.

The finished speaker measures approximately 6 x 3.2 inches in sizes (or 6 x 4.9 inches with the handle up). Connecting to your phone or laptop is easy via the Bluetooth 5.0. standard and reviewers say the sound is surprisingly loud for the speaker’s size.

DIY Bluetooth Speaker Kit

BLUE TRANSLUCENT COLORWAY

DIY Bluetooth Speaker Kit

The DIY speaker comes in four different colorways, including the black version seen above and a translucent blue colorway seen here, which lets you see all the working components inside.


Though it’s designed to promote STEM learning with kids, the DIY speaker kit is a great gift for music fans of all ages. Gather friends together to build their own speakers at your next party, or pick up a kit for yourself to make a unit that can sit on your an office desk or bedroom shelf. Reviewers give the set a 4.8-star rating out of five.

Build Your Own Bluetooth Speaker Radio

DIY SPEAKER + RADIO

Build Your Own Bluetooth Speaker Radio

Amazon also sets this DIY kit which lets you build a working FM radio (with antenna) and a mini Bluetooth speaker out of wood.


The speaker delivers three watts of sound and the units can either be powered with three AA batteries (not included) or charged via USB cable. The whimsical design resembles a cat’s face (complete with pop-up ears) when completed.

Amazon says this kit is ideal for children ages 8-12, though reviewers say it may be better suited to slightly older ages due to the complexities of the components. See more details here.

For more product recommendations, see ShopBillboard’s picks for the best speakers for music fans and best speaker deals here.

Post Malone looks to be retiring his cowboy hat, for now. Posty teased new music on Instagram on Thursday (July 16), which appears to find him tapping back into his rap roots.

“That one mofo that don’t know when to leave,” he captioned the clip, which sees Post slugging a Bud Light and puffing on a cigarette.

The unreleased track features Post’s signature melodic rapping sound that fans fell in love with on albums like beerbongs & bentleys and Hollywood’s Bleeding and could signal his sonic direction for his upcoming LP. “All my money clean, not a damn stain on me/ I would pop a bean, 2016 Stoney,” he raps on the new snippet.

“Ohhhhh this a hit,” Tyla Yaweh said in a comment, lending his stamp of approval. Fans in the comments seemed to welcome Post Malone’s return to hip-hop as well.

Post’s last rap album came with 2022’s Twelve Carat Toothache, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He leaned more into pop with 2023’s Austin and made a country pivot on 2024’s F-1 Trillion, which boasted hits like “I Had Some Help,” featuring country titan Morgan Wallen, which topped the Billboard Hot 100.

The 31-year-old has been gearing up for his next album, The Eternal Buzz, which remains without a firm release date. He first spoke about the project to Billboard at Coachella last year, where he detailed recording the LP in Nashville and already had 35 songs under his belt.

Post Malone broke out as a rapper with top 20 Hot 100 hit “White Iverson” in 2016, and blossomed into a potent hitmaker with Hot 100 No. 1s like “Psycho” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, “Rockstar” with 21 Savage, “Circles” and “Sunflower” with Swae Lee.

Listen to the snippet from Post Malone 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.

The big match is set with Spain taking on Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals.

Spain stunned defending runners-up France in Tuesday’s semifinal soccer match, while Argentina scored in extra time to take down a determined England squad. Now, one of the youngest stars in the sport — 19-year-old Lamine Yamal — will face off against a soccer legend — 39-year-old Lionel Messi — in Sunday’s match.

Whether you’re cheering for La Roja or La Selección, you still have time to order a team jersey in time for the World Cup final. We’ve found options for Spain and Argentina World Cup jerseys that you can order online for fast shipping.

Where to Buy Argentina Soccer Jersey In Time for World Cup Final

Adidas is the official jersey provider of the Argentinian Football Club at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but jerseys on the Adidas site won’t ship for a few weeks.

Argentina National Team adidas 2026 Home Replica Jersey

SHIPS IN ONE DAY

Argentina National Team adidas 2026 Home Replica Jersey

Try buying an Argentina World Cup jersey on Fanatics instead. The merch site says this replica jersey (seen here) ships in one business day.


The jersey features the blue and white stripes inspired by the Argentina flag, along with a gold Adidas crest, FIFA crest and the logo of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The jersey is available in unisex sizes small to XL (anything larger is sold out as of this writing).

Lionel Messi Argentina National Team Adidas 2006 Bringback Home Jersey

MESSI JERSEY

Lionel Messi Argentina National Team Adidas 2006 Bringback Home Jersey

Messi fans can pick up this jersey inspired by Argentina’s 2006 World Cup kit.


While the familiar blue and white stripes remain, it’s worth noting that the jersey bears the number 19, which Messi wore early in his career. This jersey also ships in one business day and it’s available in sizes small to 2XL.

Forever 21 Women's Mesh Oversized Argentina Soccer Jersey Tee

FOR PICKUP OR DELIVERY

Forever 21 Women’s Mesh Oversized Argentina Soccer Jersey Tee

$12 $15 20% off

Buy Now AT WALMART

Walmart has this Argentina-inspired jersey, available in a trendy, oversized fit.


From the Forever 21 collection at Walmart, the women’s jersey is available for same-day in-store pickup or next day delivery in most cities. Even better: it’s marked down to just $12, with multiple sizes still available.

Soccer Jersey Football Supporter Fan Shirt

FAN-MADE MERCH

Soccer Jersey Football Supporter Fan Shirt 

Amazon Prime members can get this fan-made T-shirt delivered with free, next-day shipping online. The shirt is made from a moisture-wicking material with a touch of spandex for stretch.


Choose from sizes small to 2XL. There’s also an alternate design with bold and graphic chevron stripes that you can pick up here. The next day shipping is only for Amazon Prime members. Not a Prime member? Get a 30-day free trial here to test out the service and use it to get your Argentina or Spain jerseys shipped and delivered in time for the game.

Amazon Prime members can also get a free trial to Fox One right now, to livestream the Spain vs. Argentina World Cup final match online for free. Claim the deal here.

Where to Buy Spain Soccer Jersey In Time for World Cup Final

You can also find Spain national team World Cup jerseys online, with items shipping in time for Sunday’s match.

Spain Argentina World Cup Jerseys: Order Online, Fast Ship & Delivery

SHIPS IN ONE DAY

Spain National Team Adidas 2026 Pre-Match Top

This pre-match shirt is available on Fanatics and the site says it ships in one business day.


This slim-fit shirt is inspired by the kits worn by the Spanish players during pre-game warmups and training sessions, and it comes with a breathable, sweat-wicking material. Choose from sizes small to 2XL.

Spain Argentina World Cup Jerseys: Order Online, Fast Ship & Delivery

ON SALE NOW

Spain National Team Adidas 2026 Pre-Match Jersey

$57.99 $70 17% off

Buy Now AT FANATICS

Just in time for the World Cup final, Fanatics has this Spain jersey on sale for 17% off online.


The officially-licensed kit celebrates the team’s rich history with a deep red and white colorway. The shirt comes in a slim fit with “Climacool technology” to keep you cool and breezy. This jersey is available in sizes small to 2XL and ships in one business day.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Men's Spain FIFA 26 Jersey

SAME DAY DELIVERY

FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain FIFA 26 Jersey

Walmart has this red and yellow Spain jersey that the site says is officially licensed by FIFA.


The jersey features a simple design that puts your team and country front and center, along with the FIFA 2026 logo. This is available for same-day pickup at your local Walmart store, though Walmart+ members can get fast, same-day delivery to their door. I just tried adding this to cart in Los Angeles, and it gave me a delivery time of just 51 minutes — the fastest shipping time of any item on this list.

Not a Walmart+ member? Get a 30-day trial for just $1 to take advantage of the free shipping, grocery discounts, gas discounts, streaming perks and more. See details here.

Adidas Spain 2026 Home Jersey Hook T-Shirt

SAME-DAY DELIVERY

Adidas Spain 2026 Home Jersey Hook T-Shirt

Need a Spain jersey fast? Dick’s Sporting Goods has this Adidas “Espana” T-shirt available for same-day delivery or in-store pickup (in select regions).


This officially-licensed crewneck comes in blue or white online, with the red and yellow team graphics screen-printed on the front. This comes in small to XXL.

Adidas Men's Tabela 23 Jersey

SHIPS OVERNIGHT

Adidas Men’s Tabela 23 Jersey

Amazon doesn’t currently have any Spain national team jerseys that will ship in time for Sunday’s match, but the site does have this sporty Adidas shirt in a similar red colorway.


The slim-fit shirt is sustainably made from 100% recycled materials so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your body — and hopefully channeling good vibes for a Spain win. Multiple sizes are available for this Adidas shirt. A bonus: since it’s not Spain-branded, you can always wear it post-World Cup on a run or to the gym.

Get World Cup Jerseys on DoorDash

Another place to start your search for World Cup jerseys with fast shipping is DoorDash. Yes, the site best known for food and grocery delivery also has a section of soccer jerseys available for home delivery, often in under an hour. You’ll want to type in your address to see what teams/countries and designs are available in your area. In addition to jerseys, my DoorDash account shows scarves, hats, tank tops and accessories available to order for home delivery.

Want even more savings and offers? Sign up for DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service that features perks for members, like reduced delivery and service fees, exclusive deals for restaurants, grocers and retailers, plus the ability to earn 5% DoorDash credits on eligible pickup orders, up to 10% off rides from Lyft, and other benefits. Not a member? New subscribers can Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything DashPass has to offer.

Sunday’s World Cup final pits the two best teams in the world against each other. Argentina is looking to defend its title from 2022, while Spain is looking to hoist the World Cup trophy for the first time since 2010.

Dave Kendall, the British VJ who helped bring the sounds of the alternative rock nation into millions of homes in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the host and guiding force behind MTV’s influential 120 Minutes, has died at age 68. The news was shared by fellow former MTV talking head and 120 Minutes host Matt Pinfield, who paid tribute to his friend and colleague in a post on Tuesday (July 14).

“Dave was one of the true believers,” wrote Pinfield on Instagram. “Long before alternative music found its way into the mainstream, he was there every week on 120 Minutes, introducing people to bands that would go on to define an era. He didn’t just host a show. He gave a home to music that deserved to be heard. He loved the music, respected the artists, and connected with fans in a way that always felt authentic. That’s a rare gift.” Pinfield gave no cause of death.

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According to his bio, Kendall began his career as a journalist and editor, writing profiles and reviews for American and British newspapers and magazines including Melody Maker, Spin and the New York Post. After relocating from his native England to New York, he was hired by MTV to create 120 Minutes. He went on to spend seven years as a writer, producer, presenter and news reporter at the video music channel that once had tremendous star-making power.

In his role as host of 120 Minutes from 1988 to 1991, Kendall helped to promote a variety of alternative acts who went on to great fame, including premiering the video for Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in September 1991. The show continued with Pinfield as host from 1995 to 1999, and then enjoyed a brief 2011-2012 revival, before being canceled by sister channel MTV2 in 2003.

Following his MTV run, Kendall went on to host and co-produce the nationally syndicated talk show Music Scoupe, as well as to host the internationally simulcast 1994 concert Soccer Rocks the Globe and anchor the Woodstock ’94 pay-per-view. In addition, Kendall worked extensively in radio, writing and hosting local and nationally syndicated shows. He also created an early video streaming site (alterworld), worked in content development at Soundbreak and had a seven-year DJ residency at New York’s Limelight; he released the mix CD A Voyage Into Trance, Volume 2, in 2002.

Kendall moved to Bangkok in 2011 to host and produce the travel show Destination Thailand. Beginning in 2017, he edited and wrote stories for the Bangkok Post.


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Karol G’s got a few pranks up her sleeve — and sometimes her friends are the target.

The Grammy winner was part of Elle’s “Phoning It In” series, in which guest celebrities prank-call friends and family while listening to their reactions on speaker.

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“I’m a huge pranker. I’m always pranking my team. They suffer a lot,” she admitted at the beginning of the episode, during which she called three people: her manager, Raymond Acosta; her friend and guest on the upcoming Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour, Becky G; and her best friend, Daiky Gamboa, to whom she said she was postponing the tour to go “find love” on a TV show.

“I had the most random thing happen to me. Apparently, the team here is moving the whole tour around because something came up that’s supposedly 10 times better — me going on Love Island,” she said to Gamboa, who replied, “What are you talking about?”

Karol went on to explain that “There’s a show called Love Island,” and “it’s supposedly a show to find love.”

Gamboa interrupted by asking, “Wait, are you serious, or are you joking?” 

The Colombian artist confirmed, “I’m serious. Noah called me to tell me this was literally the coolest thing ever and that it would take my career to the next level.”

Gamboa then tells her she is too famous for the hit reality show. “No celebrity I know — at your level, anyway — has ever done anything like that. Ever,” he said.

“I’m calling you because you’re the one who always knows that whole celebrity world and everything, and I wanted you to tell me, because I’m really nervous and stressed,” Karol replied. 

“That’s a reality show like La Casa de los Famosos,” he replied, at which point Karol can be seen holding back a laugh. “No, no, no, no. I can’t even…I’m honestly in shock that they’re proposing that to you. I swear, I’m in shock.”

“No, but I said yes,” Karol replied in an anguished tone.

“Are you kidding me or what?” Gamboa inquired, making Karol break character and burst out laughing as she admitted it was a joke. 

“You got me, stupid,” he said. 

Karol is gearing up for the world tour, which is set to kick off July 24 in Chicago. On Tuesday (July 13), Venezuelan singer Elena Rose, Colombian singer Greeicy and Becky G announced that they will be opening guests for the artist on select dates of the U.S. leg of the 63-stadium run.

Tropicoqueta, Karol G’s fifth studio album, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 following its release.

Upon the album’s debut, La Bichota shattered the record for a female artist by landing 20 simultaneous songs on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart. Of those 20 concurrent hits, 18 were brand-new debuts from the album.


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The DC Council in Washington, D.C., has passed one of the most comprehensive ticketing regulation bills in the country. On Tuesday (July 15), the council voted unanimously to give final approval to The RESALE Act, which includes a host of consumer protections — from a resale cap of 10% on concert tickets to requiring ticket resellers to acquire a license if they advertise more than 50 tickets in a year.

Championed by councilmember Charles Allen, the RESALE Act includes several measures that have been proposed or enacted in various states across the U.S. This includes the 10% resale cap, ticket price transparency for fans — so buyers can see the full price of tickets from the beginning of the sale — and the banning of speculative ticket sales and advertising (speculative tickets are tickets that the reseller does not actually possess).

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As of June 2026, 20 states across the U.S. have introduced similar legislation on resale and speculative ticketing. But D.C.’s coalition of advocates for the RESALE Act — including the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the Fix the Tix Coalition, which is made up of more than 30 live music and event industry organizations and local promoters and venues — lobbied for additional laws not typically seen in similar bills around the country. Audrey Fix Schaefer, NIVA’s board president and director of communications for I.M.P., 9:30 Club and The Anthem in D.C., tells Billboard she hopes the RESALE Act will “become model legislation throughout the land.”

The RESALE Act will also require any ticket reseller that advertises 50 or more tickets a year to register with the district and obtain a license. According to advocates of the bill, requiring this will increase oversight and accountability in the secondary marketplace, as well as inform buyers if they’re purchasing from a professional reseller or a casual fan. When tickets are being resold on the secondary market, the seller will also be obligated to provide the original price of the primary ticket for purchasers to view.

“It is pretty phenomenal that the city thought this was important enough that they’re investing in a new section of the licensing office to” handle the licensing registrations, Fix Schaefer says. “They put it in the budget.”

The RESALE Act will also prohibit surveillance pricing, which prevents ticket sellers from using consumers’ personal data to manipulate or personalize prices. The bill ensures the District has the authority and resources necessary to hold bad actors accountable.

Councilmember Allen, who authored the RESALE Act, said in a statement, “People are sick of big tech wringing more and more money out of them. DC is a leader here and I expect many other jurisdictions to step in once they see we can save our residents money and keep more dollars in our local economy instead of propping up big tech.”

“Black Cat has always been proud of our city and its music scene, and is excited to see DC become one of the first places in the nation where bands can set concert prices with confidence and fans will be free from price gouging,” added Catherine Ferrando, vp and co-owner of independent D.C. venue Black Cat.

Following yesterday’s final Council approval, the RESALE Act will advance through the remaining steps of the District’s legislative process before it can take effect. The act will need to be signed by Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser, who has shown support for the bill. Once a bill is signed by the mayor, D.C. legislation is shared with both chambers of the U.S. Congress, which have 30 days to either veto the legislation or allow it to become law without interference. If the mayor signs the RESALE Act and Congress doesn’t block it, the law would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.


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Bad Bunny wants a judge to reconsider a recent ruling that refused to dismiss a sprawling lawsuit over the origins of reggaeton, arguing his accusers are citing a “Frankenstein” copyright.

The ruling, issued earlier this month, said only a jury could decide whether reggae duo Steely & Clevie own the dembow rhythm — the boom-ch-boom-chick beat heard in almost every reggaeton song. The judge’s decision likely means years more of litigation in the massive case, which targets Bunny and dozens of other artists over nearly 2,000 songs.

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But in a motion Wednesday (July 15), attorneys for the reggaeton superstar pleaded with the judge to overturn that ruling, arguing that the case has a fatal flaw that had not been properly acknowledged.

“Plaintiff’s supposed selection and arrangement does not exist in any single work,” writes Kenneth Freundlich, the star’s lawyer. “They have assembled a ‘Frankenstein’ across three separate songs.”

The huge case, filed in 2021 by Cleveland “Clevie” Browne and the heirs of Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson against Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee and many others, claims their 1989 song “Fish Market” is the ultimate source of dembow. But it also asserts ownership over two later songs called “Dem Bow” and “Pounder (Dub Mix II)” — both of which were allegedly based on “Fish Market” and helped spawn the sound of reggaeton.

In the ruling earlier this month, the judge said that only a jury could decide whether the dembow rhythm is copyrightable. But in Wednesday’s motion, Bad Bunny’s lawyers said it had overlooked one thing: that Steely & Clevie’s alleged proprietary beat does not exist entirely in any of the three songs that allegedly spawned it.

“The consequence of this omission is concrete, and it is not merely a case management problem: Plaintiffs are asserting exclusive rights in a supposed selection and arrangement that does not exist,” Freundlich writes.

If the judge declines to review his own ruling, Bad Bunny wants an alternative route: The right to immediately appeal the ruling to a federal appeals court before the complex case gets bogged down in discovery and an eventual trial.

“Resolving it now may appreciably shorten the time, effort, or expense of conducting the proceedings, especially where what lies ahead is an [infringement] analysis of over one thousand works,” the star’s attorneys write.

In a statement to Billboard, Steely & Clevie’s attorney Stephen Doniger said it was “disappointing that defendants continue to push their false narrative” about dembow: “Defendants offer nothing new and no basis for reconsideration. We hope the court will quickly deny this motion.”


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LONDON, U.K. — Dan Nevin will lead Merlin’s engagement with independent trade associations and strategic partners worldwide as vice president, industry relations.

In this new post, the Australia-born executive will also oversee the independents’ rights organization’s global membership development team, supporting membership growth and diversification, particularly across Asia, Africa, Oceania and other emerging music markets; support targeted membership acquisition and engagement strategies; and develop initiatives that help emerging independent businesses build the capabilities needed to participate in Merlin’s global licensing network.

“The independent sector has never been more globally connected, and Merlin has an important role to play in helping our members succeed in that environment,” comments Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton, to whom he reports. “As we continue to evolve, it’s essential that we build ever stronger relationships around the world, ensuring independent voices are represented wherever the future of music is being shaped.”

Nevin “is uniquely qualified to lead that work,” Lexton continues. “He has earned enormous respect across our community through his integrity and unwavering commitment to independent music, and I’m delighted to see him join the Merlin team in this newly created role.”

Nevin brings to the role more than two decades of experience working with the independent music space. He served as CEO of Australia’s independent music companies trade body AIR from 2014 to 2016, at which point he relocated to the United Kingdom. Before that, he served as digital music manager at JB Hi-Fi, Australia’s largest home entertainment retailer.

Since moving to London a decade ago, Nevin has worked with music companies, labels and distributors as a consultant and adviser.

“I’ve been connected to Merlin since its early days and have long admired and respected what the organisation has done and continues to do in delivering value for its members and the independent sector,” Nevin comments in a statement. “I’m excited to take on this new role and work closely with our members, industry partners and colleagues across Merlin to strengthen connections, support the continued growth of independent businesses around the world and develop initiatives that create meaningful value for both today’s members and the next generation of independent rightsholders.”

Founded in 2008, Merlin now represents the rights of thousands of independent record labels and distributors with a membership that is said to account for roughly 15% of the global recorded music market. Its mission: to ensure the world’s leading independents have access to the deals, tools, and opportunities to succeed in the digital marketplace.