Great minds, we’ve been led to believe, think alike. And cracking young artists, it would appear, hail from New South Wales’ Central Coast.

Ninajirachi and Boy Soda are two of those cracking artists who, on the eve of the ARIA Awards, enjoyed a full circle moment.

Both are poised to play a big part at the ARIAs, with Ninajirachi (real name: Nina Wilson), the rising EDM star, leading the pack with eight nominations, and Boy Soda (Brae Luafalealo), a vocal talent, chasing best soul/R&B release and set to perform.

On Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, the pair shared their respective journeys with a packed room of special guests for a pre-ARIAs gathering near Centennial Park, a short stroll from Hordern Pavilion, the site of the recording industry’s flagship awards night.

Both are alumni of Gosford High School, where they were separated by a year. They found each other through their mutual love of music, and even collaborated in the school grounds. Australia, a small world of 25 million folks.

Ninajirachi has won the Australian Music Prize and the triple j J Award for album of the year in quick succession, and could clean up at the ARIA Awards with her debut album I Love My Computer (via NLV Records).

“I actually finished most of it this year,” she said of her LP, which dropped Aug. 8. “I had at least half the songs at the end of last year,” including the title, “but I really kind of did most of the work between maybe April and June (of 2025). It that was definitely the most dense work period on the album. I feel like since it’s come out I’ve lived 100 lives and done a lot of shows, it’s definitely been a different year to any other before.”

Speaking with New York-based Australian music journalist Sam Murphy, Ninajirachi confirmed she’s the type of artist who loves setting her personal bar high, and clearing it each time.

“I’m actually never really thinking about moving the needle forward in terms of the world. That’s such a crazy undertaking. If I was holding myself to that, I would just never make a song again,” she responded with a laugh. “But I am always trying to impress myself and outdo myself and think, what have I not done?” She added, “I’m just trying to make my favorite music.”

Where I Love My Computer is themed around Ninajirachi’s connection with her device, Boy Soda’s Soulstar LP is a sonic plate of healing, and self-expression.

“It’s been that big process of catharsis. There’s 13 songs on there and they all kind of fix or address a certain thing within myself. They all represent different moments in my life or just different places that I’ve found myself on this kind of emotional spectrum in the last year of wanting to talk about that,” he remarked. “About not feeling like you have to change the world, just take the pressure off this.” Those songs capture “what my mornings sound like to me, what like a bad day sounded like for me, what a sexy day sounds like to me.”

Boy Soda completed the brunch event with a four-song showcase, closed out with album track “Lil’ Obsession,” a song that “has changed my life this past year,” he enthused.

He’ll get another chance so show off those caramel-smooth tones at the ARIAs, when he performs alongside his fellow best soul/R&B release nominees Larissa Lambert, PANIA, Jerome Farah, Jacotene and a 15-piece band, for a special salute to Australia’s soul and R&B community.

Sponsored by Spotify, the 2025 ARIA Awards ceremony streams live from 5 p.m. AEDT on Nov. 19 via Paramount+, with additional coverage across ARIA’s official social channels.

Dom Dolla will cash-in at the ARIA Awards on Wednesday, No. 19 in Sydney, where he scores another piece of history with the inaugural global impact honor.

If there was an award for stamina, he’d win that too.

After another massive, record-busting run of live shows, awards and bucket-list releases, Dom finds himself at the table of the biggest electronic music artists, anywhere.

“My head’s definitely spinning a bit, but I’m having so much fun along the way,” Dolla (real name: Dom Matheson) tells Billboard. “I feel really lucky to be able to try new things creatively and share those moments with everyone who’s been along for the ride. I think if I didn’t genuinely love the process, none of this would be possible. I try to stay surrounded by like-minded people and other creatives who push you in the right ways .“

It’s been some ride.

As last year came to a close, he completed a four-date tour of Australia’s open-air venues, shifting 170,000 tickets en route to setting a new mark for a local electronic music artist.

And in the final stretch of this year, on Dec. 20, he’ll achieve another dream when he plays at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, becoming the first DJ to do.

Along the circuit, he played sellouts at MSG; released his first soundtrack anthem, with “No Room For a Saint” from F1: The Movie; completed residences in Ibiza and Las Vegas; earned a Grammy Award nomination for his remix of Gorillaz’s featuring Tame Impala & Bootie Brown’s “New Gold”; lorded over some of the world’s best-known festivals, and much more.

With at least one guaranteed award at the 39th annual ARIA Awards, Dom can boast an ARIAs three-peat. He’s the two-time reigning champion in the category for best dance/electronic release with “Rhyme Dust” (with MK) in 2023, and “Saving Up” in 2024. He also won for “San Frandisco” in 2020.

There’s a good chance Dom will fill his boots. He has seven more ARIA Award nominations, behind only Ninajirachi with eight.

Announced Monday, Nov. 17 the ARIA Global Impact Award recognizes homegrown recording artists who have “demonstrated outstanding breakthrough international success and cultural influence,” according to a statement from ARIA, and celebrates Australia’s standouts through artistry, innovation, and global connection in the 12 months leading up to the big night.

“I was honestly shocked,” he says of the latest ARIA honor, and being the first tapped to win it. “It felt a bit surreal. But I really love this award for what I think it stands for – representing Australian music, and especially Aussie dance music, on the global stage. There are so many incredible artists from past years who would’ve deserved this, and so many who’ll keep flying the flag in the future. So to be the first is really special and I can’t wait to see who picks it up in the years to come.”

The ARIA Global Impact Award presented by Spotify will be handed out during the 2025 ARIA Awards ceremony, which is presented at the Hordern Pavilion and streams live from 5 p.m. AEDT on Nov. 19 via Paramount+, with additional coverage across ARIA’s official social channels.

Mariah Carey might say “It’s time” for Christmas, but what about Thanksgiving?

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are making sure we don’t ski right over Thanksgiving on our path to the December holiday season, because there is a lot of good pop entertainment lined up for your 2025 Turkey Day. First up is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, airing on NBC and Peacock at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT on Nov. 27, which has a reliably festive (and eclectic) lineup that includes HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI) from KPop Demon Hunters and a just-announced opening performance from Cynthia Erivo. Then we have three NFL halftime headliners, with Jack White (Lions vs. Packers), Post Malone (Cowboys vs. Chiefs) and Lil Jon (Ravens vs. Bengals) all playing center-field sets.

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Katie also has you covered with a smattering of her family’s favorite Thanksgiving songs — yes, Thanksgiving has music too. Listen to the full episode below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Taylor Swift stays put at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 charts, how Rosalía gets her first top 10 album ever on the Billboard 200 with the debut of LUX, how Olivia Dean hits new highs in the top 10 on both charts, and how sombr gets his first top 10 on the Hot 100 with “back to friends.”

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

Descendants: The Rise of Red, a Disney+ show, and Spellbound, on Netflix, received multiple nominations in the music categories for the fourth annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. And Sesame Street, which has been turning out memorable songs for more than half a century, including “Sing,” “Bein’ Green” and “Rubber Duckie,” has a nominee for outstanding original song for a preschool program with “Music, Music.”

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The nominations were announced on Tuesday (Nov. 18) by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). Nominations were announced live on NATAS social platforms, plus in-person in a NATAS membership event in partnership with the Children’s Media Association New York chapter. The nomination announcement featured video messages from stars across the children’s programming landscape including Ms. Rachel and Mr. Aron (Ms. Rachel), Bob Bergen (Looney Tunes), John Tartaglia (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock), Josh Dela Cruz (Blue’s Clues & You!), Gobo Fraggle (Fraggle Rock), and Donkey Hodie (Donkey Hodie). This presentation will be available to stream on watch.theemmys.tv and via The Emmys app on Wednesday (Nov 19).

The awards ceremony is set to take place in New York City for the first time on March 1 and 2 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.

Here’s a full list of the nominees in the four music categories. The complete nominations list is available on the NATAS website.

Outstanding music direction and composition for a live action program

Descendants: The Rise of Red, Disney+ [Disney Branded Television]

Henry Danger: The Movie, Nickelodeon

Love in the Forest “A Real Bug’s Life,” National Geographic [Plimsoll Productions]

Open Your Mind a Little, “Secrets at Red Rocks,” BYUtv [Libertine Pictures]

Welcome to Camp Nightmare, “Goosebumps: The Vanishing,” Disney+ [Sony Pictures Television]

Outstanding music direction and composition for an animated program

Heart, “WondLa,” Apple TV+ [Skydance Animation]

Part 4: A Night to Remember, “Dream Productions,” Disney+ [Pixar Animation Studios]

Spellbound, Netflix [Skydance Animation]

That Christmas, Netflix [Locksmith Animation]

There’s Always a Fortune in the Cookie Factory, “Gremlins: The Wild Batch,” HBO | Max [Warner Bros. Animation]

Outstanding original song for a preschool program

“Grow Your World,” Rise Up, Sing Out, Disney+ I Disney Jr.

“I’m on My Way,” Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, PBS Kids [GBH Kids | Global Mechanic]

“I Want To Go Home,” Kindergarten: The Musical!, Disney+ I Disney Jr. [Oddbot Inc]

“Music, Music,” Sesame Street, HBO Max [Sesame Workshop]

“One Colorful Ocean,” Disney Jr.’s Ariel, Disney+ I Disney Jr. [Wild Canary]

“The Show Will Go On,” RoboGobo, Disney+ I Disney Jr. [Brown Bag Films]

Outstanding original song for a children’s or young teen program

“It’s Okay,” Zombies: The Re-Animated Series, Disney+ I Disney Channel

“No Better,” Ultraman: Rising, Netflix [Tsuburaya Productions]

“Red,” Descendants: The Rise of Red, Disney+ [Disney Branded Television]

“Red Christmas,” Descendants: The Rise of Red, Disney+

“Still Haunted By You,” Girl Haunts Boy, Fifth Season [Wonder Worldwide]

“The Way It Was Before,” Spellbound, Netflix [Skydance Animation]

The sheer number of artist signings announced on a weekly basis makes it difficult to keep up, no matter how closely you pay attention to the industry news cycle. That’s why every other Tuesday, Billboard compiles the latest signings to labels, distributors, agencies, management companies and more, in an effort to provide a snapshot of the latest moves in the artist space, from household names to indie stars to emerging acts.

First up this week, UTA signed singer-songwriter, actress and model FKA twigs for global representation in all areas. Twigs most recently released the album Eusexua Afterglow, a follow-up to her acclaimed album Eusexua from earlier this year that just nabbed a Grammy nod for best dance/electronic album. She’s slated to perform at Coachella next April.


Renowned Mexican singer Lucero is embarking on a new chapter in her career with Seitrack Records, the record label division of Ocesa Seitrack. On Oct. 29, the star, who has more than 45 years of experience in TV, film and music, signed an agreement with Octavio Padilla, the company’s director. Ranchera music will be the focus of this new phase of her career, with an upcoming album produced by Aureo Baqueiro. — Tere Aguilera


Miami company Fundamentals, led by Horacio Rodríguez, signed Ecuadorian rising star Jombriel and his longtime collaborator and producer Jøtta. Hailing from Esmeraldas, Jombriel was featured in Billboard‘s On the Radar Latin earlier this year. In March, the 22-year-old earned his first No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 with the Ryan Castro-assisted remix of his viral hit “Parte & Choke,” also featuring Alex Krack and Jøtta. Jombriel’s breakthrough single, “Vitamina” with DFZM and Jøtta, has garnered more than 325 million Spotify streams, according to Fundamentals, and is included on his debut 2025 album, Jombriel de la Suerte. Jøtta, a rising creative force in the Latin music world, is the producer behind these chart-topping hits, which blend dancehall, reggaeton and tropical sounds. — Isabela Raygoza

Check out more recent artist signings below.


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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.

The holidays are here and if you’re still looking for unique gift ideas this year, consider starting your search at Walmart. The popular big box store may be a go-to for groceries and everyday essentials, but the Walmart website has an entire selection of exclusive toys and collectibles online. These are brands and items you can only find at Walmart, meaning you’re getting something you can’t just pick up anywhere.

Many of these pieces are limited-edition releases too, like the new Wicked: For Good dolls, or the popular My Life As Harry Potter dolls. Walmart’s exclusive toy section also includes new releases from brands like LEGO, Disney and Mattel, along with franchises like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, A Minecraft Movie and even WWE and F1. Here’s a look at some of the best Walmart-exclusive toys you can buy now.

Even better: sign up for a free trial to Walmart+ to get free shipping, early access to holiday deals, free streaming perks and more.

Wicked: For Good Dorothy Gale Doll

Wicked: For Good Dorothy Gale Doll

There’s a ton of new Wicked merch online to celebrate the new movie, Wicked: For Good, and Walmart has this officially-licensed Dorothy doll as an exclusive on its website.


Measuring just under 12 inches in height, the posable doll features Dorothy with pigtails and her iconic blue and white gingham dress, along with her basket and her trusty sidekick, Toto. Hurry, this one is selling out fast so you’ll want to add to cart while it’s still in stock.

The Wizard of Oz Petite Dolls Collection Set 

The Wizard of Oz Petite Dolls Collection Set 

You can also pick up this set of four mini dolls from the original 1939 Wizard of Oz film.


The set includes six-inch versions of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow, along with a tiny Toto, all packaged in a collectible box. This one makes a great holiday gift idea too.

Minecraft Man’s Best Wolf Pack

Minecraft Man’s Best Wolf Pack Set

Jack Black’s Minecraft Movie was a hit at the box office (and on the Billboard charts) this year and Walmart has this two-pack of Steve and his palewolf Dennis.


The action figures measure approximately four inches and come with their own accessories: Steve has his Diamond Armor, a removable helmet, and a diamond sword, while Dennis has his red collar. This is an officially-licensed movie release and makes a great collectible gift too.

Best Walmart-Exclusive Toys, Collectibles: Shop Latest Releases Online

My Life As Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Doll Playset

Walmart’s “My Life As Harry Potter” dolls have been a bestseller online and they’re back in stock for the holidays here. Already have the dolls? Pick up this collectible playset, which features everything you need to set the stage for your own mini Harry Potter production.


A suitcase-like storage box opens up to reveal a train station-inspired playset, complete with “movie-accurate” interior design and decor, plus accessories like luggage, Hogwarts letter, a light-up lantern, and a pull-out sofa bed for your dolls.

My Life As Harry Potter Ravenclaw Doll

My Life As Harry Potter Ravenclaw Doll

As mentioned above, you can pick up the Walmart-exclusive Harry Potter dolls right now while they’re back in stock for the holidays.


Each doll measures 18 inches in height and comes in a display box along with accessories like a robe, scarf, suitcase, wand, plush mascot, Hogwarts acceptance letter and more.

Huffy 12V McLaren Formula 1 Kids Ride-On Car with Remote Control

Huffy 12V McLaren Formula 1 Kids Ride-On Car with Remote Control

$158 $198 20% off

Buy Now AT WALMART

Don’t let your eyes deceive you, this isn’t a toy car but rather a full-sized battery-operated car that you can actually ride in.


Measuring approximately 46 inches in length, the car features a McLaren F1-inspired design with a durable steel frame, and an injection-molded plastic body. The built-in 12V battery gets speeds up to 2.8 mph, with two speed modes. The seat, meantime, can accommodate riders up to 125 pounds.

Jurassic World Ultimate Damage Scorpios Rex Dinosaur Toy Figure

Jurassic World Ultimate Damage Scorpios Rex Dinosaur Toy Figure

$29.94 $50 40% off

Buy Now AT WALMART

Jurassic World Rebirth was a big hit at the box office in 2025 and Walmart has these exclusive Jurassic Park toys on sale right now online.


This figurine features an eight-inch Scorpios Rex that’s been hurt in battle. The “damage” area around his midsection glows red when you press it, with intensifying light patterns (like a rapidly beating heart) the more you hold. This Jurassic Park figurine also features changing sound effects, and you can pair it with an app for even more play options.

Best Walmart-Exclusive Toys, Collectibles: Shop Latest Releases Online

LEGO Jurassic World Brick-Built Mosasaurus Boat Mission Kit

You can also find a number of Walmart-exclusive LEGO sets online, include this Jurassic Park building kit, which features more than 800 pieces as you reconstruct one of the movie scenes.


The LEGO Brick-Built Mosasaurus Boat Mission building kit lets you build a dinosaur figure that measures more than 16 inches in length, along with a boat and two mini research stations.

WWE Champs Pop N Lock Surprise Figures Blindbox

WWE Champs Pop N Lock Surprise Figures Blindbox

Between Labubus and Monchichis, blind boxes were all the rage in 2025, and the WWE is getting in on the trend with this Walmart-exclusive “Pop N Lock” release.


Crack open a box to reveal one of 12, three-inch figurines of popular WWE stars like Cody Rhodes, John Cena and Randy Orton. Each figure comes with his signature accessory, such as a ladder, chair, or briefcase, and you also get a collectible trading card. Shopping for the holidays? This makes a great stocking stuffer too.

Disney and Pixar Woody & Jessie Action Figure Pack

Disney and Pixar Woody & Jessie Action Figure Pack

Disney Pixar’s Toy Story celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025 with some big news: a Toy Story 5 is on the way.


In the meantime, fans can pick up this Woody and Jessie two-pack, which features the cowboy and cowgirl in all their costumed glory. This is an officially-licensed Toy Story release available exclusively at Walmart — in other words, you can’t buy this set anywhere else. The Woody figurine measures 9.2 inches tall, while Jessie measures 8.8 inches tall. Both are fully posable with removable cowboy hats.

MrBeast Lab Swarms Hyper Fusion Lava + Ice Lab 6 Pack

MrBeast Lab Swarms Hyper Fusion Lava + Ice Lab Six-Pack

MrBeast went from making YouTube videos in 2025 to appearing in music videos, with the popular creator making a cameo in the video for Mariah Carey’s comeback single, “Type Dangerous.”


MrBeast also continues to find success in the toy arena, and this Walmart-exclusive gets you a six-pack of his “Micro Beasts,” with three exclusive Lava + Ice Micro Beasts in a test tube. There are more than 100 Micro Beasts to collect in total, including rare and special-editions and even a limited-edition “Hyper Fusion Panther.”

Star Wars Force 2-in-1 Twist Lightsaber, 2-in-1 Blue & Red Lightsaber

Star Wars Force 2-in-1 Twist Lightsaber

One of the newest arrivals to Walmart’s exclusive toy section is this officially-licensed Star Wars lightsaber.


This unique release lets you choose the dark side or light side depending on which way you twist the handle. The lightsaber goes from blue (Anakin Skywalker) to red (Darth Vader), with corresponding sound effects to match. The set also includes two interchangeable caps, plus two AAA batteries included.

LEGO Star Wars Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle Set

LEGO Star Wars Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle Set

Kids of all ages can also find this 386-piece Star Wars LEGO set exclusively at Walmart, to build your own version of Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.


The stark black ship has fold-out wings that extend to more than 17 inches wide when in flight mode, or you can keep it on the buildable display stand.

GOTRAX Aero Foldable Electric Scooter With Seat

GOTRAX Aero Foldable Electric Scooter With Seat

It’s not just toys either: the Walmart-exclusive section also has regular bikes, electric bikes and even electric scooters, like this top-rated pick from GOTRAX.


This portable scooter fits kids and adults alike, with foldable seat, footrest and comfortable handles. The 350-Watt motor gets a top speed of up to 15.5 MPH and the 36 Volt, 5.2 Ah battery provides a range of up to 9.5 miles per charge.

ROSALÍA makes history with an unprecedented feat, as she becomes the first artist to secure five No. 1s debuts across Billboard charts (dated Nov. 22). LUX, her fourth studio album, opens at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums, Top Latin Pop Albums, Classical Albums, Classical Crossover, and World Albums. The set also debuts at No. 4 on Billboard 200 chart, making her first top 10 on the overall chart.

LUX opens with 46,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States on the tracking week ending Nov. 13, according to Luminate. While ROSALÍA scored two No. 1 albums on the Top Latin Pop Albums chart previously through El Mal Querer (2018) and Motomami (24 weeks at No. 1 between 2022-23), LUX marks the Spaniard’s first effort to reach No. 1 on Top Latin Albums and her first top 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200. It’s also her first title to reach Classical Albums, Classical Crossover and World Albums.

Out of LUX’s 46,000 total units in its opening week, streaming activity contributed 27,000 units, translating to 34.1 million on-demand official U.S. streams. Meanwhile, album sales accounted for 19,000, with minimal contribution from track-equivalent album (TEA) units.

Top Latin Albums’ Best: ROSALÍA achieves her strongest performance yet on the Top Latin Albums chart as LUX debuts at No. 1. This marks her best showing on the overall Latin albums ranking among three entries. Her 2018 album El Mal Querer peaked at No. 10, while Motomami climbed to No. 3 in 2022.

First Spanish-Born Woman to Top Classical Albums & Classical Crossover Albums Charts in Modern Era: While the Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums charts have featured numerous core Latin and Spanish-born artists over the years, until now, a Spanish-born woman had never claimed the top spot on either chart in the modern era (since Luminate’s electronically-tracked data began powering both charts in December 1993). Renowned Spain-born figures José Carreras and Plácido Domingo, and Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel have all achieved No. 1s on the Classical Albums chart, with Carreras and Domingo also earning a No. 1 on the Crossover Albums chart in 1997.

With the arrival of LUX, ROSALÍA breaks new ground, becoming the first woman who is both Spanish-born and primarily a Latin recording artist, to achieve a No. 1 on both charts in the modern era.

First Spanish-Speaking Solo Woman to Reach No. 1 on the World Albums Chart: Nine acts who speak and predominantly perform in Spanish have previously reached No. 1 on the World Albums chart. Among those, Cuban ensemble Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 2015), Spanish artist Manu Chao (2007), Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela (2007, 2009, 2014), Puerto Rican artist Residente (2017), Mexican musician Santana (2019), Spanish group Gipsy Kings (1990, 1994-1997, 2001, 2004, 2013), Colombian Pedro Ramaya Beltrán (2017), and Peruvian artists Ricardo Delgado and Mario Mendoza (both in 2017).
With her album LUX, Rosalía becomes the first-ever Spanish-speaking solo woman to claim the top spot on the 25-position World Albums ranking.

Most Simultaneous Songs for a Latin Pop Act on Hot Latin Songs in Over a Year: ROSALÍA sets a new standard for Latin pop acts by placing 11 simultaneous songs on the Hot Latin Songs chart in 2025, which incorporates streaming data, radio airplay, and digital sales to rank songs. Prior, only one Latin pop artist had reached similar milestones in a single week: Kali Uchis, with 14 concurrent tracks in January 2024.

Starting at No. 3, “La Perla,” with Yahritza y Su Esencia, leads the new tracks with 4.8 million official on-demand streams. Plus, “Reliquia” the album’s second top 10 hit, debuts at No. 10 with 3.2 million official on-demand clicks during its opening week. With these two new top 10 entries, ROSALÍA captures her ninth top 10 on Hot Latin Songs.

Here’s a rundown of ROSALÍA’s LUX tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart (dated Nov. 22):

No. 3, “La Perla,” Yahritza y Su Esencia
No. 10, “Reliquia”
No. 13, “Sexo, Violencia y Llantas”
No. 15, “Porcelana”
No. 17, “Dios Es Un Stalker”
No. 23, “La Yugular”
No. 25, “De Madrugá”
No. 26, “Mundo Nuevo”
No. 28, ‘Sauvignon Blanc”
No. 30, “La Rumba Del Perdón,” with Estrella Morente & Silvia Pérez-Cruz
No. 36, “Magnolias”

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 59th annual CMA Awards is almost here. Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the ceremony is set for Wednesday (Nov. 19) and will broadcast live on ABC. With a jam-packed lineup of performances, including Keith Urban, Shaboozey, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, this is one night country fans don’t want to miss.

Don’t have cable? We’ve put together a guide on how you can stream the 2025 CMA Awards online for free. Keep scrolling to see who’s performing, who’s nominated, and the best streaming services to use to watch the event live, including DirecTV.

How to Watch the CMA Awards Online for Free

Because the CMA Awards is airing on ABC, there are multiple ways to watch and stream the show live and on-demand – and for free in most cases. If you don’t have access to cable, streaming is the best choice. Fans can stream the award show on DirecTV, Sling TV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV.

DirecTV

Join DirecTV with a five-day free trial to enjoy your favorite sports and other entertainment. The streaming service’s signature packages feature more than 90 channels: ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, ESPN2, FS1, SEC, MLB Network, TLC, CBS, USA, Bravo, E!, BET, MTV and more.

A subscription to DirecTV — which comes with ABC — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $49.99 for the first month of service ($89.99 per month afterwards). The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.

Fubo

FuboTV offers a seven-day free trial when you sign up for one of its plans. You’ll gain access to more than 200 live TV channels — including ABC — so you can watch the 2025 CMA Awards for free. After your free trial is over you’ll be charged the subscription price based on the plan you choose or you can cancel at anytime.

Sling TV

Sling TV is offering new half off off their first month with any of its three packages. You can choose from: the Orange, Blue or Orange + Blue. Rather than choose between the two, you can combine the two with the Orange + Blue package, which will give you access to more than 50 channels, DVR storage and the ability to stream on up to three devices.

Hulu + Live TV

For the most content offerings, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV and get access to the Hulu library in addition to more then 95 live TV channels (including ABC). The streaming platform starts at $64.99 per month for the first three months of service ($82.99 per month afterwards).

And, for even more programming, Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited, which gives you everything within the Hulu library, in addition to exclusive content on ESPN for even more sports coverage.

Who’s Nominated?

This year marks the first time that three female solo artists have shared the lead for nominations at the CMA awards. Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson are the top nominees with six nods each. They are followed by Zach Top with five nods; Riley Green and Cody Johnson with four nods each; and Kristian Bush, Carson Chamberlain, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen with three nods each. For the full list of nominees, click here.

Who’s Performing?

Here are the performers that have been announced (so far) for the 2025 CMA Awards.

  • Keith Urban 
  • Little Big Town
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • BigXthaPlug
  • Brandi Carlile
  • Kenny Chesney
  • Luke Combs
  • Riley Green
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Ella Langley
  • Patty Loveless
  • Megan Moroney
  • Old Dominion
  • The Red Clay Strays
  • Shaboozey
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Zach Top
  • Tucker Wetmore 
  • Lainey Wilson 
  • Stephen Wilson Jr.

Aspen Live, the annual live music industry conference, is returning to Aspen, Colo., Dec. 4-6. Capped at an attendance of 150 people and scheduled around Colorado’s winter activities, the event is the brainchild of longtime touring and event producer Jim Lewi, who heads up production and business development for Embarc Events.

“The first year we did it in 1996, everybody who came was a skier or snowboarder,” says Lewi. “It was dumping snow, and everybody wanted to go out and ski. So I said, ‘Okay, no meetings until after the lifts close.’”

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That philosophy continues today, even though only half of the attendees ski or snowboard, according to Lewi. Mornings feature a group breakfast, followed by activities — skiing, cooking classes, nature walks — that are designed to keep attendees networking. Panel discussions happen in the afternoons, followed by cocktail parties and dinners around town.

The conference’s most anticipated panel brings together Dave Marcus from Ticketmaster, Dean DeWulf from AXS and Sean Stewart from StubHub, moderated by manager Randy Nichols. It’s a lineup that Lewi acknowledges could get contentious.

“I warned StubHub before they said yes that it could get rough with people in the room,” Lewi says. “But this is part of our distribution network now. We can fight it, or we can do business with them and try to get rid of the bots.”

Lewi sees the secondary market as an opportunity for rights holders to capture upside they’re currently missing. “If you’re gonna charge more money for my ticket, I want to get paid on the upside,” he explains. “That’s Sean’s job — to have that direct relationship with the rights holders.”

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Aspen Live’s programming reflects Lewi’s belief that the live music industry can learn from adjacent sectors. One panel focuses on Latin music, exploring how that market has grown beyond border states to continually expand its audience. Another panel brings together performing arts center executives with venue operators and artist managers.

“How do we utilize their models?” Lewi asks. “They have subscribers, they have mailing lists, they book further in advance. What can we learn from them?”

Perhaps most intriguing is a session featuring representatives from minor league baseball team the Nashville Sounds. “They sell more tickets than Major League Baseball, without the names, without the money,” Lewi says. “How are they so good at engaging fans? They’re selling the same product over and over again.”

What distinguishes Aspen Live is its commitment to honest discourse in an intimate setting. “We want it to be more of a discussion and a dialogue than a monologue,” Lewi says. “People yell out their own thoughts throughout the meetings.”

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Lewi notes with pride that the conference has spawned numerous business relationships and partnerships over the years: “A lot of people have created their whole business out of Aspen,” he says.

As the live music industry faces mounting challenges — from affordability concerns to changing consumer behavior — Aspen Live’s intimate, problem-solving approach feels increasingly relevant. As Lewi puts it, the goal is for the industry to find sustainable models in an increasingly difficult market.

“The theme is always, ‘Solve problems and try to learn from each other,’” Lewi says. “I’ve always been very dreamy. I dream that Aspen becomes a place where problems can be resolved.”

Learn more and register at AspenLive.com.


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Sabrina Carpenter got two for one with her latest Short n’ Sweet Tour “arrest,” with the pop star stopping her show in Los Angeles on Monday night to charge sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning with being too hot.

In clips from the singer’s second of six shows at Crypto.com Arena, Carpenter singles out the Hollywood-stars in the crowd. Doing her usual schtick, the Grammy winner asked for their names and chirped, “It’s like, one of you is cute, but two though? Damn!” (in reference to her “Juno” lyric, “One of me is cute, but two though?”).

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The two actresses smiled and blushed as Carpenter passed down two pairs of fluffy pink handcuffs, continuing on her tradition of “arresting” famous guests for the “crime” of being too attractive at her Short n’ Sweet shows. Past “perps” have included Millie Bobby Brown, Gigi Hadid, Anne Hathaway, TWICE and more.

The tradition will soon come to an end, however, as Carpenter’s stint at Crypto.com Arena marks her final stop on the trek after more than a year on the road. Since kicking off the tour in September 2024 in support of her Billboard 200-topping album Short n’ Sweet released the month prior, the singer has dropped a whole other album, Man’s Best Friend.

After her final show on Nov. 23, Carpenter will start preparing her highly anticipated set for Coachella 2026, which she’ll headline alongside Justin Bieber and Karol G. As announced last week, she’s also going to begin work on a long-delayed Alice in Wonderland remake, which she’ll both executive produce and star in.


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