She sang the most legendary Mexican bolero, rocked alongside one of the most recognized frontmen of Latin rock, and on her last night at the GNP Seguros Stadium, she danced to the rhythm of “Amor Prohibido” to honor the Queen of Tex-Mex, Selena Quintanilla. That’s how Dua Lipa wrapped up her successful Radical Optimism Tour on Friday (Dec. 5) in Mexico City, where she performed three sold-out shows this week at the iconic venue.

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In an atmosphere filled with nostalgia and emotion after completing 92 shows around the world, according to Lipa herself, the British star chose to sing her version of the classic song by the iconic Mexican-American singer, with whom she said she feels “a very special connection” due to their shared dual nationality.

“I chose this song because I feel a very special connection with this artist and with her feeling of belonging to two places at the same time,” Lipa told in Spanish to the 65,000 attendees (according to figures from promoter Ocesa) gathered at the stadium. “It’s something I deeply identify with, as I feel I am both Albanian and English, just as she was Mexican and American.” (Watch the moment here).

Lipa was born in London to Albanian-Kosovar parents in 1995, the same year of Selena’s death. In 2022, she reinforced her family roots by obtaining Albanian citizenship. Meanwhile, the Queen of Tejano Music was born in the U.S. with Mexican heritage.

Although she didn’t have special guests like on Tuesday, when Fher Olvera from Maná joined her on stage to sing the band’s classic “Oye Mi Amor” as a duet, Lipa shook the Mexico City stadium to the rhythm of Selena. “¡Dua, hermana, ya eres mexicana!” (“Dua, sister, you’re already Mexican!”), some attendees shouted, thanking her tribute to the country.

On Monday (Dec. 1), during her first night back in Mexico, the singer surprised the audience with the classic “Bésame Mucho” by Consuelo Velázquez, in the version recorded by Luis Miguel in 1997. The gesture was reciprocated two days later by the famous Mexican superstar on social media with an image of both their faces but no accompanying message.

Also on Friday, after the World Cup draw held in Washington D.C., where Mexico learned two of its three upcoming opponents, a fan gifted Lipa a jersey of the Mexican National Team when the artist approached her fans. The Mexican team reacted with a message on X: “One beauty with another beauty! Dua Lipa posed with our new jersey and gifted us this spectacular snapshot. The British singer and us are levitating with World Cup excitement.”

Lipa’s return to Mexico also offered a series of unforgettable experiences to her fans. At the initiative of her record label, a temporary themed taqueria was opened in a tourist-friendly neighborhood of the capital. She also held the first Latin American session of Service 95, a digital newsletter where the singer shares book recommendations and interviews with authors, at a local bookstore. Additionally, she enjoyed the city and its cuisine with friends and family, as she shared on her social media.

“Thank you so much for welcoming us with open arms and for this energy that I will carry with me until next time,” Lipa expressed in Spanish during the last of her three shows in Mexico City, which gathered a total of 195,000 people, according to Ocesa.

Lipa began her Radical Optimism Tour in Singapore in November 2024, continuing through 2025 in Australia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, where the euphoria for the artist was overwhelming. The British singer explored each city marked by the tour and performed surprise covers of local artists that captivated and connected in a special way with her fans. To see all the songs in Spanish and Portuguese she performed throughout the world tour, click here.


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From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

Mon Laferte, Lunay & More Dazzle at Fashion Awards with Willy Chavarría

The Fashion Awards, often referred to as the U.K.’s Met Gala, brought together global stars on Monday (Dec. 1) in London. Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarría’s brought a dynamic group of Latin artists including Mon Laferte and Lunay, as well as Mahmood and Ellie Goulding. Chavarría, who was nominated for designer of the year, used the prestigious event and his brand’s mission to promote human dignity. 

Chilean superstar Mon Laferte turned heads in a ruby red leather coat-dress paired with platinum blonde hair, while Puerto Rican artist Lunay donned a zoot suit-inspired metallic, olive-tone trench coat — designed by Chavarría. “Collaborating with Willy is always a thrill,” Lunay told Man About Town. “Being surrounded by creativity and coming as Willy’s guest is such an honor. This is where the best in fashion come together, and I love being inspired […] Every time we work together, I walk away feeling like the strongest, most authentic version of myself.”

The New York-based designer is renowned his sharp tailoring that blends high fashion with street style, oversized silhouettes, and an unmistakable Chicano and Latino flair. His creations are a fixture on red carpets and in pop culture.

Willy Chavarria & Mon Laferte

Willy Chavarria & Mon Laferte

Diego Bendezu

Becky G’s Premieres Rebbeca in Her Hometown Inglewood

Becky G hosted the premiere of her documentary Rebbeca at the Miracle Theatre in Inglewood on Sunday (Nov. 30). Sponsored by Miracle Theatre and Patrón Tequila, the premiere took place ahead of the film’s nationwide theatrical release on Dec. 10 and 13. Attendees included Wilmer Valderrama, will.i.am, Chiquis Rivera, Dolores Huerta and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., along with members of the Inglewood City Council.

“It was never a question for me if the premiere of this documentary would be in the city that raised me because my pride for where I come from is as real as it gets,” Becky said ahead of the screening. “But what I wasn’t prepared for emotionally was seeing this room filled with so many familiar faces. Little me used to buy her school uniform next door, and I don’t think she could’ve imagined days like today.” Tickets for the film are available at beckygisrebbeca.com.

Becky G attends the premiere of "REBBECA" on Nov. 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Becky G attends the premiere of “REBBECA” on Nov. 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

JC Olivera/Getty Images for State of the Art

Industry Leaders Share Keys to Música Mexicana’s Global Rise

Industry leaders came together on Tuesday (Dec. 2) for The Rise of Música Mexicana: Lessons for the Global Music Industry, a panel exploring the genre’s exponential growth and its impact on the global music scene. Moderated by Billboard Español‘s Isabela Raygoza, the discussion featured Lorena Cabral (director, A&R, Downtown Artist & Label Services), Daniel Luna (CEO, D Luna Music), Carlos Santos (label manager and co-founder, K Music), and Jorge Navarro (music partnerships manager, MX & CO, YouTube Music).

As part of Music Biz Passport Series — that highlighted global territories such as Brazil, France, and China — the conversation focused on how Mexican music evolved from a regional genre into a global force, highlighting artists like Peso Pluma, Luis R. Conriquez, Netón Vega and more breaking cultural barriers and dominating global streaming. Panelists explored how this genre’s success can serve as a blueprint for other artists to expand their reach and transcend boundaries. Watch the full panel discussion below.

Marc Anthony Lights Up Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting took place on Wednesday (Dec. 3), marking the start of the holiday season in New York City. Broadcasted live on NBC and Peacock, the centerpiece was a 75-foot Norway Spruce from East Greenbush, New York, adorned with 50,000 LED lights and a Swarovski star. Performers included Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Michael Bublé, Laufey, Halle Bailey, and Marc Anthony. The salsa superstar delivered performances of “Christmas Auld Lang Syne,” “Feliz Navidad,” and his mega hit “Vivir Mi Vida,” delighting the crowd while celebrating the season.

Marc Anthony performs during the annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 3, 2025 in NYC.

Marc Anthony performs during the annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 3, 2025 in NYC.

Ralph Bavaro/NBC/Getty Images

Fuerza Regida Recognized by Harvard University

On Tuesday (Dec. 2), Fuerza Regida was honored with the Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA Trailblazer Award, recognizing their contributions to regional Mexican music and its growing influence on global charts. The award celebrates the band’s role in bringing Mexican music into mainstream audiences. As part of the event, the San Bernardino troupe participated in a Q&A session with Harvard students, co-hosted by Neon16.

Gloria Trevi Announces Show Celebrating Her Birthday

It’s a Gloria Trevi Live Celebration! The legendary Latin pop singer announced a one-night-only concert in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Dec. 2) to celebrate another revolution around the sun. The event will take place on Feb. 28 at BMO Stadium, and tickets go on sale Friday (Dec. 5) via LiveNation.com.

“Celebrating my birthday on stage is the best way to thank life and my fans for so many years of love and resilience,” said Trevi in a press release. Promoted by Live Nation, Great Talent, and Latino Live, this exclusive performance promises to be a “historic celebration of her music, her legacy, and her fans,” states the release.  

Gloria Trevi

Gloria Trevi at BMO Stadium.

Ruben Chairez

Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson had sharp words for disrespectful behaviour at Good Things Festival, calling out a festivalgoer who repeatedly threw beach balls during the band’s Melbourne set on Dec. 5.

“Big guy with your big f–kin’ beach ball,” Manson said from the stage. “What a f–kin’ douchebag… You’re a f–kin’ middle-aged man in a f–kin’ ridiculous hat, and you’re a f–kin’ f–kface. I want, literally, to ask people to f–kin’ punch you in the f–kin’ face. But you know what? I’m a lady, so I won’t.”

While the comments sparked a wave of viral discussion online, Manson later doubled down on her stance in a statement posted to Threads, where she clarified her long-standing distaste for beach balls at shows and broader frustration with how some fans treat live music spaces.

“I make NO APOLOGIES whatsoever for getting annoyed at beach balls at shows,” she wrote. “I joined a band because I HATED THE F–KING BEACH. I joined a band because I wanted to listen to Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure and be dark and beautiful.”

She continued, “I love the musical community and I want to respect their artistry. I am so tired of folks taking music for free and treating us all like circus performers.”

The Scottish alt-rock icon and her bandmates — who last toured Australia in 2016 — are currently performing across the country as part of Good Things Festival, with additional sold-out sideshows in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.

Their setlist includes fan favourites like “Only Happy When It Rains,” “Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!),” “Stupid Girl” and “When I Grow Up,” alongside material from their 2021 LP No Gods No Masters and 2023’s Let All That We Imagine Be The Light.

The band is scheduled to perform next in Sydney (Dec. 6) and Brisbane (Dec. 7), before kicking off their headline run.

XG member Cocona has publicly come out as transmasculine non-binary, sharing a heartfelt letter with fans in honor of their 20th birthday.

The rapper, vocalist, and performer from the Japanese girl group posted an emotional statement on Instagram on Saturday (Dec. 6) reflecting on identity, growth, and self-acceptance.

“Today, I turned 20,” Cocona wrote. “As I reach this new chapter in my life, I want to share something that’s been in my heart for a long time. I am AFAB transmasculine non-binary. Earlier this year, I had top surgery. I was born and perceived as female, but that label never represented who I truly am.”

Cocona continued, “The hardest thing I’ve ever faced was accepting and embracing myself… Now, I can finally say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with who I am inside.’” The performer also expressed gratitude toward their XG bandmates, XGALX founder and producer Simon (Jakops), and their parents, adding that their support helped make the journey possible.

The message quickly drew an outpouring of love and praise from fans, with XG supporters and members of the LGBTQIA+ community celebrating Cocona’s honesty. The post, which included emoji symbols of unity and infinity, ended with the words: “May these words gently light a spark in someone’s heart. And to everyone who needs it — may my love reach all of them.”

Shortly after, XGALX CEO and artistic director Simon (Jakops) shared his own statement on Instagram, expressing respect and support for Cocona. “I am deeply moved and filled with respect as Cocona courageously shared their passion with the world,” he wrote. “I will continue to provide sincere support so that each member can be truly respected not only as a ‘working artist’ but also as a person.”

Simon reflected on the group’s journey together — noting that all members have now reached adulthood — and reaffirmed that XG’s mission goes beyond music and visuals, aiming to share “the pure and essential heart of each member” with fans around the world.

Since debuting under XGALX in 2022, XG has earned international recognition for their polished performance style, multilingual lyrics, and message of female empowerment. Cocona’s coming-out marks a significant and visible moment for LGBTQ+ representation within the global pop landscape — particularly in the Japanese and Korean entertainment industries, where conversations around gender identity continue to evolve.

Zac Brown Band opened its eight-date (so far) limited engagement at Las Vegas’ Sphere on Friday night (Dec. 5), bringing a show filled with hits and fan favorites.

The inaugural night coincided with the self-release of the group’s new album, Love & Fear, also out Dec. 5 and the evening’s 26 songs drew heavily on the new set with seven songs performed. The other 19 tunes spanned the triple-Grammy winning band’s repertoire extending back to its first album, 2008’s The Foundation.

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Talking to Billboard earlier this year about the band’s Sphere run, Brown said it is the realization of a dream he has had even before the immersive venue opened in 2023.

“I’ve been wanting to do a spectacle for a couple years,” he said, “I’ve been planning to figure out how to do something where the production and the fan experience is just on [another] level. And then in my planning for doing that, I heard about the Sphere and toured the building while it was under construction. I was like, ‘This is the place…’ The Sphere is the greatest canvas that’s ever been created for imagination.”

Brown calls the Sphere appearance and the new album “2.0 for our band,” who has landed five albums on top of Billboard’s Country Albums chart. “There’s some bands, they keep going for a while and then they kind of get tired, they stop,” he said. “But my passion and my creativity is as good now as it’s ever been, and I just want to keep pushing the envelope of what our band is capable of and bringing our fans along for the ride… This is our chance to show that we’re not slowing down. We’ve actually got our foot on the gas.”

Below are all the songs that Zac Brown Band performed on the first night of their 8-night Sphere residency that runs through Jan. 17. The first four shows are sold out, while limited tickets remain for the remaining four dates.

After facing sharp criticism from Sabrina Carpenter and her fans, the Trump White House has quietly removed a controversial video that featured her song “Juno” in a post promoting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.

The post quickly went viral—but not for the reasons the administration may have hoped, as the White House seemingly deleted the post on Friday without explanation.

On Tuesday (Dec. 2), the pop star slammed the government for posting a compilation of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers chasing, tackling and handcuffing people on the streets while a snippet of the Short n’ Sweet hit “Juno” plays. “This video is evil and disgusting,” Carpenter wrote on X.

“Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” she continued.

Following Carpenter’s objection earlier this week, in a response shared with Newsweek, spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: We won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”

As of press time, the White House has not posted an explanation for the removal, and representatives for Carpenter have not issued additional comment beyond her viral reply. Carpenter closes a breakout year with multiple Hot 100 hits and a sold-out arena run, and “Juno” remains one of her most visible live moments.

The deleted clip followed recent instances in which official Trump-era channels paired pop hits with political messaging — a tactic that’s drawn pushback from artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, who last month condemned the White House for pairing a video encouraging self-deportations to her song “All-American Bitch.”

“Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,” she wrote at the time.

The recent use of Carpenter’s “Juno” was especially charged given the song’s fan-favorite status on Carpenter’s Short ’n Sweet Tour, where she playfult “arrested” people for being too attractive just before performing “Juno” each night. Before the trek wrapped in November after more than a year on the road, Carpenter had distributed fuzzy pink handcuffs to everyone from Millie Bobby Brown, to TWICE, SZA and Miss Piggy of The Muppets.

DJ Khaled recently turned 50 and received a gift from Jay-Z and record executive Lenny S that blew him away.

Khaled posted a video on Instagram of Lenny S standing in his living room giving him framed pictures from Khaled’s early days as a teenage DJ when he purchased a red 1991 BMW M3 with money he made hosting parties along with model of the same car.

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“That’s in the ’90s, I had an M3, hustlin’,” said Khaled while holding a picture of himself posing with the same car when he was 15. “Listen, the vision was so clear. We used to do parties, rent out halls and we used to charge $5 at the door, and the flyers were graffiti. … I bought an M3, and this M3, I put a system in it. I was like, 15, 16, and I put a system in it, and the whole car caught on fire.”

Lenny then told Khaled that he had good news and that he had bad news. The good news was that he had the car outside waiting for him, but the bad news was that it didn’t have a custom system in it yet. Of course, Khaled couldn’t believe it.

“No way,” he said. “Nah, nah, nah, nah, that’s crazy. Yo, listen, that’s crazy. Nah, this legendary. Oh my God, yo, that’s crazy. Yo, Jay-Z, Lenny S, y’all went crazy on this. You know I used to have one of these sh–s? This is crazy. An M3? You know how classic this is? You know Hov and that Lexus? Yo, Hov, yo Len, stop, man. Y’all gonna make me cry, don’t do this. Yo, I was selling Pelle Pelles out the back of the trunk, mixtapes, I used to sell alligator shoes out the back of this trunk. This that real deal. … Lenny S and Jay-Z got me an M3.”

DJ Khaled turned 50 on Nov. 26.

Live Nation was the standout music stock for the week ended Dec. 5, though it rose only a modest 6.0% to $139.33. Its share price was up even as the company faces a barrage of legal issues, including an antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice, another lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and yet another brought by Taylor Swift fans. At the same time, though, Ticketmaster isn’t suffering as much as its peers in the secondary market. Amid efforts to cap profits on ticket resales, StubHub shares are down 47.1% from the company’s Sept. 16 IPO price, and Vivid Seats shares have fallen 91.8% this year. Ticketmaster operates a secondary market, but the company encourages artists to raise the price of primary tickets to capture revenue that would otherwise go to scalpers.  

This week, the 19-company Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) added to its woes by falling 2.1% to 2,542.64, marking its ninth decline in the last 11 weeks. The BGMI now stands 18.4% below its all-time high of 3,117.20 set the week ended June 30 and sits at the same level it reached in April.

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Elsewhere, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 fell 0.6% to 9,667.01, lowering its year-to-date gain to 17.5%. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index, which has gained 67.9% in 2025, rose 4.4% to 4,100.05. China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.4% to 3,902.81, raising its year-to-date improvement to 21.5%. 

Music is underperforming other indexes as stocks have remained resilient in the face of tariff uncertainty and job losses. Since the week ended Sept. 12, the Nasdaq composite index is up 4.2% and the S&P 500 has risen 3.1%. The BGMI, on the other hand, has fallen 18.0% over those 11 weeks through the week ended Dec. 5. Many of the index’s largest components have sank over those 11 weeks, including Universal Music Group (down 7.3%), Warner Music Group (down 14.7%), Live Nation (down 14.9%) and Spotify (down 23.1%). 

The previously high-flying Spotify fell another 5.7% to $564.93 this week, making the Stockholm-based company the second-worst performer behind French music streamer Deezer, which dropped 6.0% to 1.03 euros ($1.20 ). Spotify shares have fallen 22.4% since the company’s Sept. 30 announcement that CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek would step down as CEO and assume the role of executive chairman at the end of the year. And although Spotify is still up 21.1% in 2025 — besting the Nasdaq’s 20.2% gain and the S&P 500’s 15.6% improvement — its share price has dropped 28.0% from its 52-week high of $785.00. 

MSG Entertainment was the week’s second-greatest gainer after rising 4.7% to $51.79, while sister company Sphere Entertainment Co., which has capitalized on the success of The Wizard of Oz, fell 0.3% to $84.31. The company announced on Tuesday (Dec. 2) another milestone for its Oz motion picture: Through Monday (Dec. 1), Oz grossed more than $200 million in sales from over 1.5 million tickets sold since debuting on Aug. 28. Unlike previous milestones, however, this latest threshold didn’t goose the stock price. 

Other notable movements included SiriusXM (up 3.6%), Warner Music Group (up 1.3%), Universal Music Group (down 1.3%), CTS Eventim (down 3.6%) and iHeartMedia (down 5.6%). 


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Cam’ron is having second thoughts about taking part in the Verzuz battle between the Diplomats and the LOX.

During a recent episode of It Is What It Is, Cam, Ma$e, Maurice Clarett and host Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson were discussing Lane Kiffin’s controversial decision to leave No. 6 Ole Miss as they get ready for the College Football Playoffs for SEC rival LSU and Stat Baby asked the panel if they ever had a tough decision to make. When it was Cam’s turn to answer the question, he brought up the Verzuz from 2021 where Dipset lost to the group out of Yonkers.

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“I can name a lot of decisions that wasn’t good ’cause I was trying to be a team player,” Cam’ron answered. “I should’ve never did the Verzuz, I told n—as, ‘Don’t do the Verzuz.’ I told n—as, ‘I don’t wanna do the Verzuz.’ But I’m a team player and it was the wrong decision that I made. No more of that, no more of that, no more of that.”

He later added: “I tried to be team player a lot of times and that’s the first thing that came to my brain when you said, ‘Wrong decisions.” It was the wrong decision.”

Led by Jadakiss, the LOX famously beat the Harlem group consisting of Cam, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and Freekey Zekey at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, with Kiss’ “Who Shot Ya?” freestyle being the knockout blow.

You can watch the full episode below.

Spotify has shared the top artists streamed in Canada, with rapper Drake taking the top spot, followed by Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen. Scarborough native The Weeknd comes in at No. 4, while Drake’s rival Kendrick Lamar ranks at No. 5. Two spots down at No. 7 is Canadian pop singer Tate McRae.

Despite Drizzy accusing the streaming service of contributing to an illegal “scheme” involving bots, payola and other methods to push Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” the Toronto rapper has maintained a spot at the top of listeners’ playlists.

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Canada’s Top Artists of 2025

  1. Drake
  2. Taylor Swift
  3. Morgan Wallen
  4. The Weeknd
  5. Kendrick Lamar
  6. Zach Bryan
  7. Tate McRae
  8. Travis Scott
  9. SZA
  10. Kanye West

Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping I’m The Problem was the most-streamed album in Canada, followed by the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack and SZA’s lengthy SOS Deluxe: LANA.

The top album by a Canadian was Tate McRae’s So Close to What, which comes in at No. 4, while Drizzy’s team-up with fellow Canadian PARTYNEXTDOOR$ome $exy $ongs 4 U, ranks at No. 7. Despite releasing in October, Taylor Swift’s chart-topping album, The Life of a Showgirl, comes in at No. 10.

Canada’s Top Albums of 2025

  1. “I’m The Problem” by Morgan Wallen
  2. “KPop Demon Hunters” by KPop Demon Hunters Cast
  3. “SOS Deluxe: LANA” by SZA
  4. “So Close To What” by Tate McRae
  5. “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)” by Alex Warren
  6. “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
  7. “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” by PARTYNEXTDOOR, Drake
  8. “One Thing At A Time” by Morgan Wallen
  9. “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
  10. “The Life of a Showgirl” by Taylor Swift

Head here to read all about the Canadian most-streamed lists, including songs and Franco-Quebec artists and songs. — Heather Taylor-Singh

Marc Miller Named New Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture After Steven Guilbeault’s Abrupt Resignation

Canada has a new Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.

As part of a cabinet shuffle this week, Marc Miller was appointed to fill a position made vacant on Nov. 27 when Steven Guilbeault resigned from the Mark Carney-led cabinet to protest the Prime Minister’s controversial energy deal with Alberta. Guilbeault was also Minister Responsible for Official Languages and Minister of Nature and Parks Canada, as well as Carney’s Lieutenant in Quebec.

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The former Justin Trudeau-era minister was sworn in along with two other new ministers during a brief ceremony at Rideau Hall late Monday afternoon.

As Billboard Canada noted last week, the Ministry of Canadian Identity and Culture has a direct impact on the Canadian music industry via its administration of the recently-renewed Canada Music Fund, which supports both FACTOR and Musicaction. These granting bodies provide artists, labels and other organizations with funding for a wide range of activities, including recording, touring, marketing and music video production. Many in the industry, including the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), appealed to Guilbeault to act for the Canadian music industry during a pivotal moment.

Miller takes on his new role after the Heritage/Culture portfolio has seen a rapid turnover in recent years. 

The Canadian Live Music Association was quick to congratulate Miller, looking forward to “working together to unlock the full economic and cultural potential of Canada’s live music industry.”

“Live music is one of Canada’s strongest growth opportunities,” said Erin Benjamin, president & CEO of the CLMA. “With smart, modern policy, we can strengthen the touring infrastructure that allows artists to thrive, support local businesses in every region, and ensure more fans — from right here at home and around the world — have access to unforgettable live music experiences in their own communities. This is good for artists, it’s good for audiences, and it’s good for the Canadian economy.”

Read more on the new minister and what his appointment means to the Canadian music industry here. — Kerry Doole

Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What’ Climbs Back to No. 2 on Billboard Canadian Albums Chart Following Deluxe Edition

Tate McRae is so close to a sweet victory on the chart — for the second time.

This week, the Canadian pop singer’s album, So Close to What, climbs from No. 10 to No. 2 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart on the chart dated Dec. 6. Its rise follows the release of So Close to What??? (Deluxe) last month, in which she added five extra tracks to the record.

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Leading up to the deluxe album’s release, McRae released “Tit For Tat,” thought to be inspired by her breakup with fellow pop hitmaker The Kid LAROI. It became her third top-five hit on the Canadian Hot 100, debuting at No. 3, and this week, it rises from No. 23 to 16.

The remaining four SCTW deluxe tracks have arrived on the Canadian Hot 100 this week too, including “Nobody’s Girl” (No. 13), “Anything But Love” (No. 22), “Trying On Shoes” (No. 28) and “Horseshoe (No. 40).

Three tracks from the standard version have also re-entered the Canadian Hot 100: “Miss Possessive,” “Dear God” and “Siren Sounds” — at No. 84, No. 86 and No. 93, respectively.

So Close to What scored the Calgary native her first No. 1 on Canadian Albums in March, following the project’s release, sitting at the top for two weeks. It made waves in the U.S., too, claiming the top spot for one week.

Read more on this feat and more from the Billboard Canadian charts here. — HTS


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