MGK‘s show in Rosemont, Illinois, on Thursday night was part concert, part friendship love fest, with Halsey surprising the crowd by joining her longtime pal on stage for an electric performance of “Bad Things.”
At one of the final 2025 dates of the rapper-turned-rocker’s Lost Americana tour, the pop star came out for an unexpected duet on MGK’s nine-year-old Billboard Hot 100 hit “Bad Things.” “Am I out of my head? Am I out of my mind?/ If you only knew the bad things I like,” Halsey sang, taking over Camila Cabello’s part on the song. “Don’t think that I can explain it/ What can I say? It’s complicated.”
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While she was onstage with him, MGK gave a sweet speech honoring how his friend has overcome numerous health struggles in recent years, including lupus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. “I wanna give flowers to this amazing woman, who’s had a very, very, very tough couple of years,” he said as Halsey blushed. “Health scares that I got to personally watch her fight through, and I don’t know if we’ve acknowledged that enough, how much you mean to music, and how much you mean to me as a friend.”
“Seeing you that way during the time, and seeing you now …,” MGK added in clips captured by fans at the show. “I mean, this girl is still going through chemotherapy and fighting every day, and she’s out here crushing it.”
Halsey has been open about facing difficult health challenges, revealing in 2024 that they’d been diagnosed with lupus and T-cell disorder two years prior. Before embarking on her own Back to Badlands Tour in October, the singer underwent another round of chemotherapy.
MGK and Halsey have been friends for years, teaming up in 2020 on “Forget Me Too” for the former’s Tickets to My Downfall album. In 2022, Halsey appeared on stage with MGK at his Mainstream Sellout Tour show in Los Angeles.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 23:35:022025-12-05 23:35:02MGK Brings Halsey Onstage for Surprise Duet & Praises Her for ‘Fighting Every Day’ Through Illness
Taylor Swift, can we ask you a question? Or several, really.
As the days count down to the premiere of Taylor Swift: The End of an Era, there are a few lingering thoughts in our minds about the record-breaking tour that dominated from 2023 to 2024.
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From the clips that have already premiered, we’ve already learned a lot. At least one dancer gives an interview. A personal message gets projected right before she goes onstage. Travis Kelce met her under the stage. Andrea Swift talks. Taylor signed a lot of albums after shows because she couldn’t sleep just yet. She breaks down a mashup – in this case it was the final mashup in Vancouver of “New Year’s Day,” “Long Live” and “The Manuscript.” (And we’ve known for a long time that yes, she did use the janitor’s cart to get from her dressing room prior to each concert’s start.) But there’s more we’re really curious about. (With all due respect, of course.)
Taylor Swift: The End of an Era premieres Dec. 12, 2025 on Disney+ along with The Eras Tour: The Final Show – which includes never-before-seen high-definition footage of The Tortured Poets Department set. Read below for the questions we hope are answered during the documentary series.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 23:28:162025-12-05 23:28:167 Questions We Hope Get Answered in ‘Taylor Swift: The End of an Era’
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No matter what kind of music you love, there is an endless amount of shows to attend. Unfortunately, purchasing tickets can be costly, and that doesn’t take into account the stress of getting a presale code (when applicable).
That’s where resale ticket sites come in. And thanks to ongoing deals and promos, you can score cheap tickets to events you want to attend. Rather than purchase overpriced tickets from scalpers, there are numerous third-party sites that’ll provide budget-friendly concert tickets, plus, there are Billboard exclusive promo codes that’ll score you even more savings to see your favorite artists and festivals.
What Are the Best Cheap Ticket Sites?
Whether you’re on the hunt for last-minute Morgan Wallen tickets in 2026 or just need some weekend plans, these ticket sites usually come with backed up, protected sales featuring lower prices than what most scalpers are selling for. Before you make your purchase, check the buyer’s guarantee — which most of these sites feature — to see how your purchases will protected.
To take the work out of researching where to find reliable resale tickets, ShopBillboard did the work and rounded up the best cheap ticket sites so you can see your favorite artists live while avoiding emptying your wallet.
Keep reading to see where to score affordable tickets to concerts and festivals.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster’s deals page is offering four deals you can take advantage of including up to 50% off select shows, Me+3 4-Packs, 2-for-1 tickets and tickets under $40. Check out the deals page here to see what shows and concerts are eligible for the deals. In addition to concerts, current Ticketmaster deals include cheap seats for Broadway shows and musicals, stand-up comedy, sports and more. Some shows will require a promo code to use at checkout, which will be listed underneath the show name.
Rather than wait in a virtual line, Vivid Seats gives you access to thousands of events from live sports to concerts and festivals. You can search based on artist, team, venue and more, whether you’ve scored a travel deal or just want to stay local. When looking at tickets, some sales are verified with a checkmark to show they’re from what the site considers a “super seller” and the brand guarantees instant delivery to your smart device. Bonus offer: You can score $30 off purchases with the code BB30 at checkout.
TicketNetwork is a non-primary seller that aims to get tickets in your hands without you having to worry about signing up for a presale. You can take advantage of $150 off orders of $500+ when you enter the code BILLBOARD150 at checkout or get $300 off ticket purchases of $1,000+ with the code BILLBOARD300. The brand does notify shoppers that some tickets may be sold at above face value, but it offers a place that helps minimize the risk of being scammed. You can also see a ranking of the most popular shows based on the genre of music.
SeatGeek categorizes everything based on trending shows, genre and what’s going on in your area. Once you click on your desired show, the site breaks down seat choice by using a scale of 1-10 of how great a deal it is. You can also search for seats using the venue map to make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for. If it’s your first time purchasing through Seat Geek, you can snag $10 off orders of $250+ with the code BILLBOARD10.
Looking for cheap last-minute tickets? Gametime has gained attention for providing last-minute verified tickets for a more budget-friendly cost. Whether you’re waiting for day-of tickets or are looking for something to do on a Friday night, this site will show you what’s going on near you, as well as sort by some of the hottest events of the year. Plus, if it’s your first time using the seller, you can get $20 off purchases of $150+ when you enter the code SAVE20 at checkout.
StubHub is another popular choice that people go to for when grabbing resale tickets at a more affordable price. The site allows you to search by artists, genre or even in alphabetic order to see all artists playing this year. It also uses a verified Fan Protect system to help shield you from scammers.
Even More Great Cheap Ticket Sites
Today Tix
Today Tix is the destination to go to if you’re on the hunt for last-minute, wallet-friendly Broadway tickets. The site offers everything from plays, Broadway musicals, off-Broadway shows, comedies and select concerts. The site’s deals and offers page will tell you the “hottest deals,” including offers that can save you up to 40%. When you click on a show, the calendar will also show you the lowest prices for each day to help you plan.
TicketSmarter promises a 100% guarantee when selling tickets and allows you to search based on music genre, venue and VIP packages. Tickets available are rated on a scale of “smartness” with the highest number being the best. The site offers additional discounts for select groups such as 8% off purchases for students, graduate students, teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, active military and veterans, charity workers, parents, low-income and those with disabilities. You’ll just have to verify yourself through Student Beans and Beans iD.
Groupon won’t just give you a discount on restaurants or a promo on a manicure, the site also offers deals on concerts, festivals and live performances in your area or places you plan on traveling to. You can narrow your search by the type of performance or search for specific shows.
Since 1990, Ticket City has been providing people with a place to buy and sell tickets to some of the most sought out performances. The brand offers 100% guarantee on tickets bought through the site and if that’s not the case, then Ticket City will provide you with comparable or better tickets than you ordered, or you’ll be offered a refund or a credit.
Ticket Liquidator is another resale ticket site that aims to provide verified and legit tickets to concerts, sporting events and more. The site vets each seller before listing them and backs purchases through their 100% Money-Back guarantee, which means if you don’t receive legit tickets by the day of your event or if the event is cancelled, you’ll receive a 100% refund.
Viagogo is one of the largest reselling sites and provides a place where sellers can go to resell tickets. For buyers, the brand uses security checks to ensure that transactions go smoothly and tickets being sold are legit.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 23:05:492025-12-05 23:05:49The Best Ticketing Sites to Find Affordable Tickets to Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande & More
A Los Angeles judge on Friday (Dec. 5) sided with Cardi B and denied a new trial to Emani Ellis, the security guard who unsuccessfully sued the superstar for assault over a 2018 altercation at a doctor’s office.
After jurors easily rejected the lawsuit in September, Ellis asked for a new trial, including by arguing that Cardi “intimidated” jurors by throwing a pen at a reporter in a media scrum. Cardi’s lawyers called that request “baseless” and “absurd” and said it should be “rejected out of hand.”
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At a court hearing on Friday, Judge Ian C. Fusselman largely agreed, rejecting the pen-toss argument and finalizing a tentative ruling that denied Ellis a new trial.
“Even if plaintiff had provided sufficient evidence of these asserted facts, the court finds unpersuasive the speculation that defendant’s purported action of throwing a pen could have ‘intimidated’ the jurors into finding against Plaintiff given the nature of Plaintiff’s claims,” the judge wrote in that ruling.
Attorneys for Ellis also claimed the facts of the case simply did not align with the jury’s verdict, but the judge was unmoved: “The Court finds that sufficient credible evidence supported the jury’s verdict.”
Ellis sued Cardi in 2020, claiming the star had assaulted her when she worked as a security guard at a Beverly Hills gynecologist’s office in 2018, when Cardi was four months pregnant with her first child. Ellis said the star cursed and spat at her and scratched her cheek with a sharp acrylic nail, requiring plastic surgery to repair the wound.
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At an August trial, Cardi said she never touched Ellis. During two days on the witness stand, the rapper testified that she and Ellis had a verbal-only altercation after she realized that the guard was recording her — a major concern, Cardi said, because she was still concealing her pregnancy from the public.
The rapper said it was Ellis who got aggressive during the encounter, backing her into a corner and refusing to leave her alone. Cardi also said her nails weren’t capable of cutting anyone, and the jury saw a photo of her at the NBA All-Star Game the week of this incident, sporting square nails that she described as less than an inch long.
After less than an hour of deliberations, the jury unanimously found that Ellis did not prove her legal claims of assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress and negligence. And on the courthouse steps a short while later, Cardi warned against future “frivolous” lawsuits.
“I work hard for my money for my kids and for people I take care of, so don’t you ever think that you gonna sue me, and I’m just gonna settle and just give you my money,” the star said at the time. “It’s not gonna happen.”
After Friday’s hearing, one big issue remains unresolved. Cardi’s lawyers have asked the judge to punish Rosen Janfaza, Ellis’ attorney, for alleged misconduct during the trial, including by asking Cardi on the witness stand if she had any gang affiliations. Judge Fusselman did not decide that issue on Friday, but could do so as soon as next week.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 23:01:522025-12-05 23:01:52Judge Denies Cardi B Accuser a New Trial in Failed Assault Lawsuit: ‘Unpersuasive’
Three Days Grace becomes the second act in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart to tally 20 No. 1s, nabbing its milestone 20th on the Dec. 13-dated survey with “Kill Me Fast.”
The song is the rockers’ third No. 1 in a row, all earned in 2025, following the five-frame rule of “Mayday” beginning in January and the one-week lead for “Apologies” in July.
The Canadians first topped Mainstream Rock Airplay in 2004 with their sophomore entry, “Just Like You” (their premiere chart title, “[I Hate] Everything About You,” hit No. 4 in 2003). The band’s first 10 leaders were with frontman Adam Gontier, followed by seven with his replacement vocalist, Matt Walst, before the most recent three that sport both singers after Gontier rejoined the group.
Three Days Grace remains in second place for the most No. 1s in the Mainstream Rock Airplay’ chart’s 44-year archives, one behind the 21 achieved by Shinedown, whose “Searchlight” just so happens to be the Dec. 13 chart’s Greatest Gainer at No. 29.
Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay: 21, Shinedown 20, Three Days Grace 17, Five Finger Death Punch 15, Foo Fighters 14, Metallica 13, Disturbed 13, Godsmack 13, Linkin Park 13, Van Halen
The three latest No. 1s on the chart have been achieved by acts on the above list; Five Finger Death Punch’s “The End,” featuring BABYMETAL, reigned on the Nov. 22 and 29 tallies, followed by Foo Fighters’ “Asking for a Friend” Dec. 6.
Concurrently, “Kill Me Fast” remains at its No. 12 best on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.7 million audience impressions in the week ending Dec. 4, according to Luminate. It’s also bubbling under Alternative Airplay.
“Kill Me Fast” appeared at No. 15 on the most recently published, multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated Dec. 6, reflecting data Nov. 21-27); its best so far, a debut of No. 13, was achieved on the Aug. 9 list. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 543,000 official U.S. streams.
Alienation, Three Days Grace’s eighth studio album that includes the band’s three newest Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s, debuted at its No. 2 best on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in September and has earned 96,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated Dec. 13 will update Tuesday, Dec. 9, on Billboard.com.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 22:55:422025-12-05 22:55:42Three Days Grace Becomes Second Act With 20 Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s
DJ Quik’s son, David Marvin Blake Jr., has been convicted of second-degree murder, TMZ reports.
The incident in question happened in 2022 in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, California, where 33-year-old Julio Moises Cardoza Jr. was shot and killed. According to authorities, Blake fired multiple shots from inside a vehicle before fleeing the scene. The victim was then rushed to the hospital where he later died from a gunshot wound to the chest. The suspect, who was 27 years old at the time, was arrested the next day.
The legendary producer found himself in the news earlier this summer when a fan on social media said, “DJ Quik is actually who everyone thinks Dr. Dre is,” to which Quik replied, “Finally. Someone had the balls to say it.” That’s not the first time he’s addressed his friendly rivalry with Dre. In 2022, he said that he felt like he should be as highly regarded and as successful as is West Coast counterpart. “I know it’s early. But I deserve to be where Dre is,” he wrote on X. “I don’t think it’s fair, but I understand why. I’ve never had a machine behind me, that always hurt my friends more than it did me.” Quik was in attendance when Dre got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024.
Blake is facing 40 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2026.
Billboard has reached out the LA District Attorney’s office for confirmation and further details.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 22:51:122025-12-05 22:51:12DJ Quik’s Son Convicted of Murder, Facing 40 Years
Fariana says that “El Caballito” marked the beginning of a new era for her, and that her new merengue album, Música Para Bailar, is a gift for her fans and for her inner child.
Fariana: Well, imagine, it’s not a song. I had been nominated before with two categories, best rap and best reggaeton, but now that they nominate the entire album is tripling that gratitude, that emotion, that happiness, not only mine, but also my family’s, my followers.
It’s a very important album for me. I would say it’s my first professional album with everything. I feel very grateful and very proud to have worked on it the way I worked on it, to have taken the time that it took me to do it. I made it with all my heart and it represents 100% urban music.
Underwater has brought me a lot of happiness because within the album is “El Caballito.” Since I made “El Caballito” I knew what — I’ve always known what my purpose is as a musician, but “El Caballito” clarified it much more for me. When I started seeing children dancing, elderly people, people from my generation, my age, when I embraced all audiences, I said: “I now know what my true purpose is and it’s to make people very happy, besides being happy myself.” And since “El Caballito” I can tell you that a new era also began. Now I’m more aware of everything I do, of each thing I do, I’m much more aware, although I also love doing things, uh, however they come out in the moment, but I’m now more aware of more details. Since they loved “El Caballito” so much, I will bring you a gift. First I gave this to myself, to my inner child, which is a merengue album.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 22:27:462025-12-05 22:27:46Fariana Says Her New Album Is A Gift To Her Inner Child | Billboard News
Ryan Coogler’s horror film Sinners leads the 2026 Critics Choice Awards nominations with a whopping 17 bids, including best original score for Ludwig Göransson and best original song for “I Lied to You,” which Göransson co-wrote with Raphael Saadiq. The nominations were announced on Friday (Dec. 5).
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another was runner-up, with 14 nods, including best original score for Jonny Greenwood.
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Those two films were followed on the leaderboard by Frankenstein and Hamnet (11 nods each); Marty Supreme (eight); F1, Sentimental Value and Wicked: For Good (seven nods each), Train Dreams (five); and Jay Kelly and Weapons (four nods each).
Competing with Göransson and Greenwood for best original score are Hans Zimmer (F1), Alexandre Desplat(Frankenstein); Max Richter(Hamnet) and Daniel Lopatin (Marty Supreme).
The other nominees for Best Song, joining “I Lied to You,” are “Drive” by Ed Sheeran, John Mayer and Blake Slatkin from F1; “Golden” by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24 and Teddy from KPop Demon Hunters; “Clothed by the Sun” by Daniel Blumberg from The Testament of Ann Lee;“Train Dreams” by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner from Train Dreams; and “The Girl in the Bubble” by Stephen Schwartz from Wicked: For Good.
On the television side, Netflix’s Adolesence led the way with six nominations, followed by Nobody Wants This with five; and All Her Fault, Death by Lightning, Ghosts, Hacks, Severance, and The Pitt, with four nods each.
Four new categories were introduced – three for films (best stunt design, best casting and ensemble, and best sound), and one for television (best variety series).
Saturday Night Live is nominated for best variety series, while SNL50: The Anniversary Special is nominated for best comedy special. The other nominees for best comedy special are stand-up specials by Brett Goldstein, Caleb Hearon, Leanne Morgan, Marc Maron and Sarah Silverman.
The 31st Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, will be broadcast live on Jan. 4 on E! and USA Network. The show will be held at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif.
One week later, on Jan. 11, the Golden Globes, hosted by Nikki Glaser for the second year in a row, will be broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The show, which also covers both film and television (as well as podcasting as of 2026) will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Film Awards
Best Picture
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Best Supporting Actor
Benecio del Toro, One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Paul Mescal, Hamnet
Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan, Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Best Young Actor / Actress
Everett Blunck, The Plague
Miles Caton, Sinners
Cary Christopher, Weapons
Shannon Mahina Gorman, Rental Family
Jacobi Jupe, Hamnet
Nina Ye, Left-Handed Girl
Best Casting/Acting Ensemble
Hamnet
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Wicked: For Good
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Best Original Screenplay
Jay Kelly — Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer
Marty Supreme — Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
Sinners — Ryan Coogler
Weapons — Zach Cregger
Sorry, Baby — Eva Victor
Sentimental Value — Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Best Adapted Screenplay
One Battle After Another — Paul Thomas Anderson
Train Dreams — Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar
No Other Choice — Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee
Frankenstein — Guillermo del Toro
Bugonia — Will Tracy
Hamnet — Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell
Best Score
F1 – Hans Zimmer
Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat
Hamnet – Max Richter
Marty Supreme – Daniel Lopatin
One Battle After Another – Johnny Greenwood
Sinners – Ludwig Göransson
Best Song
“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 22:15:592025-12-05 22:15:59‘Sinners’ Leads 2026 Critics Choice Awards Nominations With 17 Nods, Including Score & Song: Full List
No matter how quick the wit, no stand-up comic starts out a success. Forget the top: on the way to the bottom rung, comics need to endure endless open-mic tryouts, log thousands of miles for little or no money and be thankful for 1:00 a.m. slots in front of drunken hecklers. And that’s just for starters. The further up the ladder they climb, the more pressure they face to consistently write and hone hour-plus sets that will power tours, specials and social media. Increasingly, they also choose to engage in a weekly form of digital improv known as the podcast.
As the first quarter of the 21st century comes to an end, Billboard set out to determine the best of that A-list: the top 25 stand-up comics of the last 25 years. To come up with these rankings, we polled experts that work with comics on a daily basis.
The panel consists of William Burdett-Coutts, who heads the Assembly venues at the Edinburgh Fringe festival; Michael Cox, stand-up booker for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; Adam Eget, booker at Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership in Austin, Tx, and before that, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles; Bruce Hills, who, for 36 years booked and eventually ran Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival; Caroline Hirsch, the founder of Caroline’s Comedy Club and co-founder of the New York Comedy Festival; brothers Chris Mazzilli and Steve Mazzilli, owners of the Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan; Patrick Milligan, the booker and proprietor of The Stand NYC comedy club; Susan Provan, director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival; and Samantha Schles, director of comedy at the SXSW Festival. (Billboard‘s parent company, PMC, owns a 50% stake in SXSW.)
Thanks to all our panelists for taking time out of their hectic schedules to participate. (And special thanks to Hills, who provided valuable advice on voting parameters, helped create a well-rounded and authoritative judges panel and generously provided means to contact them.)
The process began with our panel helping put together a ballot of more than 150 nominees. The talent pool was limited to comedians with active stand-up careers over the last 25 years — as opposed to sketch, sitcom, film or improvisational performers, such as the cast of Saturday Night Live, Second City or Upright Citizens Brigade. Overseas comedians with a presence in the United States were also considered.
From there, the judges each ranked their top 25 comics. Voting was anonymous, and a weighted system was used to determine the top 25. As a number of judges remarked when returning their ballots, winnowing such a large batch of nominees was extremely difficult. There are a lot of exceptional stand-up comics out there.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 22:00:342025-12-05 22:00:34The 25 Best Stand-Up Comedians of the 21st Century So Far: Full List
According to a spokesperson for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office, the rapper (Daniel Hernandez) was sentenced on Friday (Dec. 5) to three months in lockup for once again violating his probation from a blockbuster 2018 racketeering case. This time, Tekashi was caught with cocaine and MDMA and admitted to assaulting a man who taunted him about flipping on his former Brooklyn gangmates during a recent trip to the mall in Florida.
The sentence, imposed by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in federal court, is the culmination of many run-ins between the rapper and the law. Back in 2018, he was arrested and pleaded guilty to nine racketeering, gun and drug charges related to his time in the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.
Tekashi admitted to being involved in a slew of violent incidents targeting rival rappers, including a 2017 assault of Trippie Redd, and he testified against his former gang associates at a high-profile trial in 2019. In exchange for that cooperation, Judge Engelmayer sentenced him to just two years in prison rather than the decades his charges carried.
The rapper was released in 2020 after serving even less than those two years due to health risks from the then-novel COVID-19 pandemic. By the fall of 2024, Tekashi was just months away from concluding a five-year supervised release term when he was charged with a host of violations, including using methamphetamine, failing to appear for drug tests and traveling to Las Vegas without permission.
He admitted to these violations, and Judge Engelmayer sentenced him to 45 days in jail plus another year of supervised release. He got out last December, but was caught again in March for violating his probation by possessing cocaine and MDMA. Then came the Florida mall assault in August, which prosecutors classified as a misdemeanor. He’s been on house arrest since September.
In a sentencing recommendation last month, federal prosecutors said Tekashi had “violated the court’s trust” and needed to go back to jail so that cooperators would know they are “they are not above the law.” Tekashi’s lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, advocated instead for additional home detention.
Lazzaro did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-05 21:56:282025-12-05 21:56:28Tekashi 6ix9ine Is Going Back to Jail for Violating His Probation With Drugs & Assault
