Following the Nov. 26 premiere of the fifth season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, the inspired companion project, Stranger Things: The WSQK Collection, Compiled by Rockin’ Robin, makes (air)waves on the charts. The vinyl set, exclusively sold at Target stores, tunes in to the top 10 on six charts, and also arrives on the overall Billboard 200 (all charts dated Dec. 13).

The album contains 10 songs from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s that would be heard on the show’s fictional radio station WSQK (94.5 FM The Squawk), in the also-fictional Hawkins, Ind. The set includes three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s: Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II),” Diana Ross’ “Upside Down” and Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now.”

Stranger Things: The WSQK Collection spends a fifth week atop Compilation Albums, debuts at No. 53 on the Billboard 200 and sold nearly 18,000 copies in the United States in the tracking week ending Dec. 4 (up 268%), according to Luminate. Since its Oct. 24 release, the project has sold 35,000 copies.

It also impacts Vinyl Albums (rising 13-3, a new peak), Top Rock Albums (No. 5 debut), Top Current Album Sales (20-5, new peak), Top Album Sales (26-6, new peak) and Top Rock & Alternative Albums (No. 7 debut).

The WSQK Collection album is part of a larger marketing campaign around the fictional radio station, which includes a sizable line of official merchandise with period-appropriate designs. Among the merch available: clothing, posters, car magnets, vanity license plates, a lava lamp, Funko Pop! figures, mugs and a Lego playset.

Further, for WSQK fans based in the United Kingdom, the radio station has been brought to life for a limited time in partnership with Global. Until Jan. 1, a WSQK broadcast will beam out through Global Player, but only for U.K. residents. Per a press release, “fans can expect local Hawkins updates and news from ‘Squawk of the Town,’ chats with the station’s resident agony aunt on ‘Talk To Tammy,’ there’s hot gossip and entertainment news from The Scoop brought to you by Scoops Ahoy, name that backwards playing tune with ‘Rewind at 9’ and ‘Dial-a-Dedication’ where fans can submit their own dedication to a loved one which could be read out live on air. All of this and more, alongside a non-stop stream of back-to-back 80s hits!”

In promos for this weekend’s new episode of Saturday Night Live, castmember Andrew Dismukes has the hardest time placing the accents of host Josh O’Connor and musical guest Lily Allen.

“I love the accent,” Dismukes says after O’Connor’s intro, as he starts rattling off incorrect guesses. “Slovenian? Egyptian?” When he reaches back into his Avatar knowledge and asks if the accent is “Na’vi,” O’Connor replies, “Colder.” “Elvish?” Dismukes counters. “Closer, actually!”

That’s when O’Connor’s fellow countrywoman chimes in: “Andrew, he’s obviously British.”

“Ah, and for the lady, do I detect a bit of Jamaican, mon?” Dismukes asks. “Sure,” Allen simply replies.

Watch the promos below:

Allen is returning as the musical guest for the first time in almost two decades, after her debut performance back in 2007. This time, she’s promoting her buzzy new comeback album West End Girl, for which she will mount an arena tour next year, starting March 2 in Glasgow, Scotland.

This weekend will mark O’Connor’s SNL debut, as he promotes his latest film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which was released in theaters last month and arrives Friday on Netflix. In addition to the third Knives Out installment, O’Connor starred in three movies this year — The Mastermind, The History of Sound and Rebuilding — after his breakthrough performances as Prince Charles on The Crown and opposite Zendaya in the 2024 erotic tennis thriller Challengers.

Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and streams on Peacock. (See all the options to watch SNL here.)

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The holiday season can be tough for most, especially when it comes to gift-giving.

Add to the fact that a special interest, like K-pop, dominates your gifting decisions, making it increasingly difficult to know what that special soul in your life will like. This is especially true if you’re not into K-pop, a genre of music that has taken over the industry in the past few years thanks to bands like BTS, BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, EXO and so many more. You’re likely stumped, and there’s no shame in it. Not to fret, though. I’m here to guide you through the trials and tribulations of gifting for that picky K-pop fan in your life.

I’ve been a fan of the genre for over 18 years, really, before it was cool. I’ve seen the industry change and grow into the monumental success it is, which makes me the perfect translator, of sorts, to get you and your loved ones the gifts they will love just in time for the holidays.

I’ve pulled gifting ideas, including fan-made and official merch items like lightsticks, bags, keychains, posters and even shoes, from all across the web and categorized gifts by specific stan groups. Think ARMY (fans of BTS) to MY (fans of Aespa) and beyond. That way, you have the proper tools to shop like a certified K-pop stan for the die-hard fan in your life. It’s a gift guide for K-pop stans by a K-pop stan. What could be better than that? Shop my picks from Etsy, Amazon, Hot Topic and more below.

For the KPop Demon Hunters Fans

Seeing the global phenomenon that was, and is, KPop Demon Hunters warmed my heart. It introduced a whole new audience to the world of K-pop in an easily digestible and interactive way that had people hooked.

The hype has certainly not slowed, which means many will be looking for merchandise from the film to gift the little or big Huntrix or Saja Boys fans in their lives. This poster from Hot Topic is a great place to start. The wall art retails for $9.90 and depicts the Huntrix members slurping down their pre-show ramyun, a classic still from the animated film. It’s colorful, cute and would look totally sweet placed on a bedroom wall.

I’ve always found wearable K-pop merch to be the most practical and well-used in my collection, and I’m sure this DIY charm bracelet will be a staple. The stainless steel jewelry hails from Amazon and retails for $15.99. Upon purchasing, you’ll receive eight total charms, including all your favorite characters like Zoey, Mira and Rumi, along with Derpy the cat and Sussie the bird, all in chibi styles. Styled solo or worn in a stack, it brings color and a touch of K-pop to your usual jewelry rotation.

Give the gift of coziness this holiday season with this official kids’ Saja Boys hoodie, currently 20% off on Amazon. The hoodie runs in sizes fit for four-year-olds up to 14-year-olds. If I were to shop a hoodie, I would want something comfortable like this, that kind of doubles as a blanket. The style comes in pink and an alternative black colorway and is affixed with a pink, black and teal graphic. The slouchy style is stellar for getting cozy and staying in all winter long, worn with leggings or your favorite jeans. It’s also a practical piece that your kids and teens can wear on repeat to combat the chill in the air.

I’ve always had a ton of K-pop display pieces, keeping my collection front and center where everyone can see it. That extensive collection includes figurines of my faves like this one of Jinu from Funko Pop. Simple, cute, colorful and affordable, this vinyl figure retails for $14.99 on Amazon and depicts the demon boy band member in stylish pink glasses, a plaid shirt and ripped jeans, his classic look. I’d set this on a shelf or in a protected case with my other collectibles, livening up my collection with something I’ll hold onto for a lifetime.

If I had to create the perfect practical and wearable merch, Vans’ KPop Demon Hunters line of footwear would probably be it. My favorite style from the collection is the Big Kids SK8-Hi Shoe, a high-top style with the members of Huntrix on the side in colorful hues set atop a black canvas background with rubber soles. You’re getting the quality and durability of Vans’ footwear, with the fun and playful energy of the animated film. What’s not to love?

Another practical merch item I love is these official PJs. Everyone gets gifted PJs for the holidays, so why not make them K-pop themed? This set comes with a long sleeve top and matching long bottoms, all featuring stylish and eye-catching graphics in pink, blue and white. If you look closely, you can see a nod to the Saja Boys’ lightstick. Sizing is available for ages five to 14. The set is currently on sale, 33% off to be exact, so you’d better snag it while you can.

Gifts For ARMYs

I have one of these mini turntable diffusers in my car, and I can’t tell you how many times people have complimented me on it. Cute and functional, this BTS-inspired model comes with three faux vinyls that you can pop into your mini turntable. The diffuser plugs into your car’s vent and spins when the air is blowing. It also emits a fresh, beachy scent that fills your vehicle, making it a pleasant space to drive in.

Learning Korean is hard, trust me, I know, but BTS is making it easy with this Korean Learning Study Kit from Amazon. The kit is equipped with everything your loved one might need to take up a new language in the new year, including four BTS New Cover books, one TinyTAN Korean Alphabet book, a smart speaking pen with real BTS voice clips for accurate pronunciation and access to an exclusive K-pop Mini Dictionary and Korean video lessons to reinforce vocabulary, grammar and cultural understanding. Learning can be fun, especially when you’ve got BTS involved.

I’ve been the girl at the K-pop concert without a lightstick. It makes you feel like you’re missing out on camaraderie and bonding with your fellow fans and idols. To prevent that, I’ve included this officially licensed BTS lightstick that you can carry with you to concerts, thus avoiding the dreaded FOMO.

BT21 is a pretty big deal among ARMY. The little characters were created in collaboration with LINE FRIENDS and BTS, meant to represent each member and their unique personalities. If you’re a solo stan looking to rep your bias hardcore, these BT21 candles are for you. This candle is a combination of my favorite things: cozy scents and K-pop. The gift is endlessly customizable, given that you can choose the container it goes into and your preferred scent. Pricing varies based on the customization you make, with the base price being $15. This a decorative gift that would look amazing set on a desk or burned on a mantel near your other BTS merch.

BTS’ track “Butter” was a major deal when it was released back in 2022. If you’re still reminiscing about the catchy tune, like I am, then this Funko Pop BTS figure pack is for you. The ARMY-certified set comes with all seven members dressed in their outfits from the track’s music video. The little vinyl figures are situated in a “Butter”-themed box, a sweet touch for collectors if you’re not willing to take the figures out of the box.

Gifts For BLINKS

I am always hesitant to buy wearable K-pop merch, simply because it’s often not cute. Luckily, this Mitchell & Ness x BLACKPINK Knicks Snapback is exceedingly stylish, so much so that it doesn’t even look like merch. The snapback retails for $57.60 and comes in BLACKPINK’s signature black and pink color scheme, accompanied by Knicks branding. Stylish and functional, this snapback will easily work its way into your everyday hat rotation.

Yet another merch item that I would totally wear, and you should too, is this Jennie Utopia tee from Hot Topic. The stylish piece retails for $24.90 and comes in an on-trend oversized style with dreamy Jennie graphics on the front. Sizing for this tee ranges from XS to 3XL. This is a certified everyday tee that can be worn a slew of different ways, as every good graphic tee should.

I was enamored with this backpack the moment I happened upon it while scrolling through a sea of BLACKPINK merch because it’s extremely unique and functional. Retailing for $39.99, this backpack comes in the girl group’s signature black and pink colors, accompanied by a front zip pocket and a grungy chain accent. The style is lightweight but roomy enough to hold all your essentials for work or school. To make this bag even better, it comes with a built-in USB port to charge your phone and a headphone jack, great for listening to BLACKPINK’s best tracks on the go.

This cutie pencil case was a top pick for me because of the art. While you often see K-pop merch with a photo of your fave idols on the front, you rarely see art inspired by said group. The case hails from Amazon and retails for $16.99. It’s a vibrant pink hue, a nod to BLACKPINK’s color scheme, with a detailed drawing on the front of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. The pouch is packed with two big zip-up pockets, helping users organize their art supplies or even makeup brushes.

Slurping down some ramen has never been so K-pop-coded with this BLACKPINK ceramic ramen bowl retailing for $16.99. This is another merch item that I could bet you’ve never seen before. The style is made of black ceramic with art from the girl group’s 2020 album, simply titled The Album. Along with your themed bowl, you’ll get pink plastic chopsticks, a duo that’ll make slurping up soups and noodle dishes a breeze.

Gifts for STAY

If you’re a K-pop stan, you’ll know that photocards are extremely precious. They certainly are for me. Each pull from an album is like a gamble, similar to blind boxes. You won’t know which member you’ll get until the album is opened. Photocards have become a big draw for album sales, allowing fans an interactive perspective that can be traded and sold, akin to Pokémon cards.

It’s a collector’s item for many, which is why this photocard sleeve is so nifty. Retailing for $9.99, the card holder is a bright blue hue and features each member’s SKZOO character along with a clear vinyl sleeve that acts as a window so you can see your photocard at all times. Got a precious Bangchan photocard you want to carry with you everywhere? Slip it into this cardholder and secure it to your keys or bag for safekeeping.

Hopping onto the bag-charm craze, I’m thinking these Stray Kids SKZOO keychains could be a major hit this holiday season. Retailing for $7.99, each charm comes equipped with cute charms of each member’s designated SKZOO character in a chibi fashion. The charms are colorful and eye-catching, offering visual interest to whatever they’re clipped onto. Snag yourself your bias’ SKZOO or grab the whole lot to support all eight members. We’d style these on a handbag or tote; however, they’d look good in a traditional fashion clipped to keys, too.

Stray Kids’ SKZOO characters are back, this time on a cozy hoodie. I love these characters because they’re extremely colorful and interactive, livening up this otherwise boring hoodie. You’ve got all the makings of a great hoodie, from a front-facing pocket to a cozy oversized finish. The style is available at Walmart now and retails for $32.60. Sizing ranges from XXS through 4XL.

STAYs can officially begin 2026 strong with this Stray Kids 2026 desktop calendar, retailing for $14.04 on Etsy. The practical merch piece is meant to sit on a desk or side table and is filled with a slew of striking images of the beloved boy band.

Can you tell I am obsessed with Stray Kids’ SKZOO characters? No? Okay. Anyways, these crew socks from Etsy come affixed with every member’s characters. The ankle-length style is striped and made of a plush, breathable fabric that doesn’t make your feet all sweaty. You can pick through each member’s themed socks to buy your bias’ set, or grab the whole lot to give your sock roundup a K-pop themed facelift.

Gifts for ONCE

I’m a major fan of K-pop socks like these. They were super popular in my early days of stanhood, and I have a special place in my heart for them to this day. I included these for a major TWICE fan in my life who also loves these socks. You know who you are. They’re soft, colorful and certainly a conversation starter.

I’ve always found displaying my lightsticks to be tricky, because they’re usually top-heavy and don’t stand on their own. Enter this TWICE-themed lightstick stand retailing for $9.99 that’ll solve all of your lightstick-displaying problems. The holder is pink and shaped like the girl group’s logo, standing sturdy and tall with a hole on the top to slip your lightstick right in.

Are you a Mina stan? Or maybe you’re obsessed with Jeongyeon? Personally, I’m a Sana stan, but I digress. These TWICE member-themed sweatshirts let you rep your bias loud and proud, accompanied by their individual mascots, called Lovelys. When shopping, you can choose what color you’d like your sweatshirt to be and which member you’d like. Sizing is available from small to 5XL.

I’ve been seeing a bunch of K-pop fans decorate their lightsticks with hoodies like this, and I’ve always wondered where I could get one of my own. This lightstick accessory is for TWICE’s Candybong lightstick and comes in a slew of colors to represent certain members. The crochet cover is meant to look like the girl group’s Lovelys mascots. It’s a cute touch to add to your lightstick if you want to make it your own.

This canvas tote is a practical merch item that I can really get behind, since I own about a thousand different reusable totes that are all not very flattering. This one from Amazon retails for $14.99 and is extremely cute, coming in a light pink, easy-to-clean canvas, accompanied by an adjustable shoulder strap. The tote is sturdy and big enough to hold everything from your groceries to your work laptop without overcrowding or breaking.

Gifts for MY

My fellow MY, you’re in luck. Aespa has always had some of the cutest wearable merch around, and this hoodie is no exception. Stylish, cute and comfy, the official hoodie retails for $72 and comes in sizes small to 3XL. It’s a boxy black model with shattered glass-inspired graphics on the front and back in the shape of the girl group’s logo. The hem is tapered in, giving the wearer shape so the hoodie won’t swallow their frame.

Aespa just happened to create the most practical concert bag, something not even bag companies can seem to do. A clear concert bag is a must-have for those constantly heading to K-pop, and non-K-pop, concerts because they allow you to get through security checks without having to awkwardly stop and dump your bag out. Everything is visible. Beyond practicality, this bag comes with a decorative chain and a strap to carry.

I am personally never letting go of bag charms. While they might be a trend to some, they’ve become a lifestyle to me. This bag charm is even better than the rest because it’s Aespa-themed, which is a win in my book. The metal keychain retails for $9.60 and can be customized to feature your specific bias (mine is Winter). You’ll get a photo of your bias, along with grungy accents like safety pins and chains.

You can’t go wrong with this Aespa wall calendar because it’s like a poster and calendar all in one. Every month features high-quality photos of different Aespa members, from Karina to Ningning. It’s another practical gift that I just adore. For $30.78, this calendar is sure to start your new year off right.

Gifting socks can sometimes be a bit boring, but these Aespa socks are anything but. The style is graphic with a dynamic print in white against a black background. It’s a unisex model, great for both fanboys and fangirls, and it is available for just $19.14.

Don West, the hotly-tipped Australian soul artist, joins the roster at Kobalt.

West has enjoyed a bountiful breakthrough, culminating in his signing with the independent music publisher, announced Thursday, Dec. 11.

Hailing from Sydney, West’s throwback, soulful sounds have drawn favorable comparisons to the likes of Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers, and, despite being at such an early stage of his career, he has captured close to 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Just last month, West cracked the ARIA Albums Chart at No. 25 with his debut Give Me All Your Love, co-written by and Nathan Hawes (Kesmar, Surely Shirley, Lazywax) and produced entirely by Hawes.

“Don is effortlessly cool and charismatic. His deep-rooted love of classic soul and blues, combined with his coastal upbringing, has shaped a sound that’s resonating with audiences around the world,” comments Briese Abbott, Kobalt’s head of creative services Australia & New Zealand. His songwriting “feels instantly familiar, nostalgic yet contemporary, and inherently inviting,” Abbott remarks.

West made strides with his debut self-titled six-track EP, released last November, and embarked on a debut national headline tour the following month, including spots on the Spilt Milk festival.

He was nominated for the J Award, and was shortlisted at the APRA Music Awards, the AIR Awards, the inaugural NSW Music Prize in the breakthrough category, and in July of this year was named to Spotify’s RADAR program.

During the northern summer, West played a bunch of shows in Europe, including multiple sold-out London dates and festival appearances. In October, he was set to embark on his first headline tour of the United States, but had to postpone due to health issues.

“We are thrilled to have Kobalt representing Don West for his publishing,” says Max McKeith at FRNDS Management, noting Kobalt’s international teams “have all been hugely supportive of Don’s songwriting and we immediately felt like it was the right home for his music.”

West is currently on tour in his homeland, and once again on the Spilt Milk bill. Another global tour is planned for 2026.

With a network of 10 global offices, Kobalt serves over 1 million songs, representing the likes of Max Martin, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, Gunna, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, and many others.

A new digital media dawn has broken in Australia, one that blocks millions of youngsters from accessing their favorite social media apps.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government proposed groundbreaking laws that would block under-16s from accessing TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and other services, citing research that shows overexposure to social media can accelerate mental health problems for young people.

Those rules were passed in parliament a year ago, with bipartisan support, and came into effect Wednesday, Dec. 10. Australia is the first country to embark on this grand, social experiment. No doubt other countries are watching closely.

The music industry has been watching closely, too.

Kids and tweens are, so often, the noisiest superfans of pop artists, a 24-7 connection that has been forged on social media in the past decade.

Youth music organization The Push recently published the results of a national YouGov poll, which found that 70% of young Australians are discovering new music via social media platforms, raising questions on what the new regulations will mean for young Australian audiences’ music discoverability, particularly in relation to domestic repertoire.

In the foreword to “Young Australian Music Audiences 2025,” The Push CEO Kate Duncan addressed necessary “alternative spaces” that would enable young people places to connect, discover new artists and form lifelong friendships offline.

“We need to ensure that if we’re switching-off online opportunities for young Australians, we’re providing real-life, placed-based programs and events for them to connect and be okay,” Duncan tells Billboard. “Without accessible entry points, we risk losing the next generation of live music audiences; and with them, the artists, industry workers and cultural leaders who will sustain the sector in years to come.”

More than three in five of those surveyed for the report said that attending live music events was important to them. And 80% would support a government program for young people to organize or attend music events so they can stay connected without social media.

“What young people have told us is they see access to music events as the solution to connect and meet their tribe when the social media ban begins,” Duncan continues. “We need to open doors by funding all-ages gigs, backing youth-led events, making tickets affordable, and enabling schools and councils to host discovery programs. Government, industry and local communities all have a role to play in this.”

It’s early times, and the launch has been anything but smooth. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, many kids targeted by the restrictions have been able to get around the ban in various ways, with age assurance systems misclassifying users and workarounds such as VPNs and make-up tricks being used.

Those glitches will be ironed out. Billboard spoke with artist managers who noted the laws could have negative unwanted consequences.

“There are clearly loads of artists who grew online fanbases in their early to mid-teens and those communities were the foundations for big commercial success in their late teens,” says one, who asked to remain anonymous. “So ‘holding back’ Australian teens could arguably put them at a handicap when it comes to audience development as well as skills development.”

On balance, says one domestic industry professional, the negative personal impact of social media on millions of Australian kids is “a greater harm” than the negative professional impact on thousands of young Australian ‘content makers’ who will have to endure a delayed start to their careers compared to overseas competitors.”

It’s not gloomy, though it is a thorny subject, and several record label executives declined to comment. Let’s wait and see, was the prevailing argument.

The laws come into effect at a time when Australian artists are struggling to be seen and heard in an all-access digital world, a hyper-competitive market place where the main streaming services offer upwards of 100 million songs, a figure that’s rising by more six digits each week. Just one homegrown recording appears on the latest ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart, Tame Impala’s “Dracula,” at No. 33. The visibility, or “discoverability” issue was hammered home in January when domestic acts had a poor showing in the ARIA year-end charts, and the triple j Hottest 100, both industry-recognized gauges of popularity.

Just last month, the Australia Institute released a report that analyzed the data of the top 10,000 artists streamed in Australia from 2021-2024. Authored by former Spotify chief economist Will Page and forwarded by ex-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, the document revealed a sharp decline in both the number of Australian artists being streamed domestically (down 20%), and the amount of times they were streamed (down 30%).

Going forward, social media platforms face penalties of up to $50 million if they do not take “reasonable steps” to those under 16 from activating a social media account.

“Start a new sport, learn a new instrument or read that book that’s been sitting there on your shelf for some time,” Albanese said in a video message. “Importantly, spend quality time with your friends and your family, face to face.”

Maggie Collins, executive director of the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), is optimistic that artists, and young people, will always find a way to connect.

“Australian youth being forced off social media may actually drive them to seek music in more manual / analogue ways,” she tells Billboard. “They need experience and connection with one another, and it’s almost like they’ll be thrown back in time – somewhat —  in that they have to physically see each other to do that, and share their love of music in ‘slow’ consumption formats.”

No socials, no problem for ABC’s triple j, double j and Unearthed platforms. “If you’re a young Australian artist who has, or is about to have their social media platforms frozen,” reads a message from the ABC-operated music specialists, “we’re still here.”

Read more here.