The show is starting early for The Life of a Showgirl, with Taylor Swift revealing some of the album’s lyrics days before its release through a Spotify pop-up in New York City.

On Wednesday (Sept. 30), the streaming service opened up its immersive experience — which features themed decor, album visuals, video messages from Swift and, most importantly, Easter eggs — in honor of The Life of a Showgirl. Fans who visited the pop-up quickly uncovered phrases that turned out to be lyrics from songs on the album, which drops Friday (Oct. 3).

One of them was scrawled in orange lettering across a mirror. It read, “Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me.”

Another lyric — “Everyone’s unbothered ‘til they’re not” — was revealed on a banner above a Las Vegas-esque stage setup.

After their respective reveals at the pop-up, each lyric was projected across Spotify billboards in different cities. The first one reached passersby in New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, while the second went up on a billboard in São Paulo.

Spotify’s Life of a Showgirl experience will be open through Thursday (Oct. 2), meaning there may be even more lyric reveals ahead. Swift has also been dropping what appear to be more lines from the unreleased songs via not-so-randomly capitalized letters in her lyrics on Apple Music, including the phrase, “They don’t make loyalty like they used to.”

The lyrics are just a few pieces of the Showgirl puzzle that have been falling into place leading up to its release. Billboard also found out recently that the 14-time Grammy winner does indeed interpolate George Michael’s “Father Figure” in her track of the same name on the album.

Beyond the Spotify pop-up, Swift has several other exciting events planned for release week. On Friday, her The Release Party of a Showgirl film event will hit theaters. She also has appearances on The Graham Norton Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers.

See the many different global covers for Billboard’s Bad Bunny cover story.

“Pissed.” That was the terse, one-word answer Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui gave after getting asked for a reaction to her elimination on TikTok Night on Tuesday’s (Sept. 30) Dancing With the Stars. Adding insult to injury, the singer was bounced in week three of season 34 after a lukewarm cha-cha-cha to one of her own songs, 5H’s 2016 No. 4 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Work From Home.”

Even worse, the elimination came after Jauregui and professional dance parter Brandon Armstrong incorporated some of the worksite choreo from the song’s original video in front of that clip’s choreographer, Sean Bankhead, who was in the studio to offer support along with Lauren’s 5H bandmates, Normani, Dinah Jane and Ally Brooke.

Wearing a yellow fringed dress, Jauregui spun and shook her hips alongside a safety vest-wearing Armstrong, ending the performance by quick-stepping over to the cocktail table, where her bandmates and Bankhead were smiling and clapping in celebration.

For an artist used to busting out non-stop choreography during live shows, Jauregui had a surprisingly short run on the show, surviving week one thanks to a smooth tango to Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?,” followed by last week’s one-hit wonder foxtrot to The Cardigans’ “Lovefool.”

While Jauregui crashed out, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt came out on top of Tuesday night’s standings with a score of 24/30, which tied her with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, followed by reality star Dylan Efron (23/30) and influencer Alix Earle (23/30).

Though Jauregui couldn’t hoof her way to next week’s Disney Night-themed show, the singer did recently give audiences exactly what they wanted when she teamed up with her 5H bandmates — minus Camila Cabello, who was also not on hand Tuesday night — for a surprise reunion at the Jonas Brothers’ JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown show in Dallas on Aug. 31.

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

Watch Jauregui’s “Work From Home” dance below.

Just over a year after he was first arrested, Sean “Diddy” Combs will appear in a federal courthouse Friday to be sentenced for his crimes.

Though he faced sweeping charges of racketeering and sex trafficking – prosecutors said he coerced women into “freak off” sex parties – the jury ultimately convicted him of only two lesser prostitution counts, an outcome widely seen as a major victory for the rap mogul.

That split verdict means Diddy is no longer facing a life sentence, but how much time will he actually get? And how will the judge decide that question? Billboard turned to the experts to find out.

According to Tama Kudman, a veteran defense attorney at the law firm Kudman Trachten Aloe Posner LLP, much will depend on whether the judge sticks to that limited verdict. Will he focus narrowly on Diddy’s actual convictions? Or will he be swayed by broader signs that Combs is violent, like the infamous hotel assault video?

“Evidence of domestic violence has gotten in front of this judge, and he can’t just unsee it. The cat’s out of the bag,” Kudman says. “But Combs was not convicted of any crimes really associated with that violence, right?”

Combs was found guilty on two counts of violating the Mann Act, a century-old federal criminal statute that prohibits transporting people across state lines for prostitution. Those convictions carry no mandatory minimum and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

That’s far less than if he’d been convicted on the racketeering (RICO) charge, which could have added another 20 years, or been found guilty of sex-trafficking, which alone carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and maximum of life behind bars.

The first word on sentencing in any federal case comes from the U.S. Probation Department, which calculates a suggested range of sentences for the judge to consider. In Combs’ case, citing a number of “enhancements,” the probation office says the star should get between 70 and 87 months in prison – more than 7 years behind bars.

Diddy’s lawyers say that report “grossly overstates the seriousness” of his actual convictions and instead are asking for only 14 months – which would see him released almost immediately on time-served. They point repeatedly to the jury’s rejection of the most serious charges that formed the core of the case: “Put simply, the jury has spoken.”

But prosecutors want the judge to go even further than the recommendations, arguing that Diddy should get more than 11 years in prison. Even if he was only convicted on lesser Mann Act counts, the feds say the judge can still take into account “decades of abuse” by the “unrepentant” rap mogul when handing down his sentence.

When weighing Diddy’s prison time, Judge Arun Subramanian will start with the federal sentencing guidelines – a points system that aims to give judges a uniform framework for meting out punishment. More serious offenses carry more points, which can be adjusted up or down based on circumstances; the point total is then combined with a defendant’s criminal history to reach a recommended range.

After setting the guideline range, the judge is then required to weigh several case-specific factors when considering his final sentence. They include the seriousness of the crime, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the need for deterrence, and the need to keep sentences consistent across different cases.

But beyond hard-and-fast maximums and minimums, federal judges themselves ultimately have final discretion on sentencing. They are the ones to decide the appropriate guideline range, and they are the ones to decide what elements of a case matter most.

“How much weight to give each of these factors is entirely up to the judge,” says Sarah Krissoff, a former longtime Manhattan federal prosecutor now in private practice at Cozen O’Connor. “And ultimately the judge will figure out a way to fit the sentence he wants to impose within this framework.”

How will Judge Subramanian apply those rules to Diddy’s case? Experts say it could turn on the split nature of the verdict: The fact that, while Combs was charged with a sprawling criminal case, he was only convicted of far more limited crimes. “That is the clear tension in this case,” says Kudman, the defense attorney.

Until recently, even after a defendant was acquitted of a particular charge, they could still be sentenced for other crimes based on that so-called acquitted conduct – a practice that led to sharp criticism from both lawmakers and Supreme Court justices. But last year, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to amend the sentencing guidelines to limit the practice, citing concerns about the “perceived fairness” of the criminal justice system.

At Diddy’s trial, prosecutors spent much of the time trying to prove that he had used violence, intimidation, money and influence to coerce his victims into taking part in the freak offs; they did so because such conduct is a key legal requirement to prove racketeering or sex trafficking. But jurors then rejected those counts, and instead only convicted Combs on the few counts that didn’t require such proof.

As a result, Diddy’s lawyers have argued in their post-trial motions that the “vast majority of the evidence the government presented at trial” was the kind of acquitted conduct that cannot be weighed at sentencing. They explicitly say that includes the video of him assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel, as well as other incidents of violence.

“What is the point of a jury trial if the defendant can be acquitted, but then sentenced as if he had been convicted?” his attorneys asked the judge in one court filing. “Doing so nullifies the entire purpose of a jury.”

Unsurprisingly, prosecutors disagree. They say Diddy’s lawyers are seeking an “unprecedented” restriction on sentencing, and that the violence seen at the trial is still fair game. “The defendant will not be punished for any crimes of which he was acquitted, of course, but punishment for his crimes of conviction must take into account the manner in which he committed them.”

How Judge Subramanian resolves that argument could make or break Diddy’s sentence, but experts say it will be a challenge. It remains unclear how exactly judges must filter out acquitted conduct from their sentencing decisions under the new rules. And other sentencing factors, like the “history” of the defendant, seem to directly ask courts to look at past violence – something this judge saw in vivid detail at trial.

“Ostensibly, the judge is only going to sentence the defendant on the counts on conviction,” said Krissoff, the former prosecutor. “But it will be hard for the judge to unhear everything he has already heard about Combs.”

South by Southwest has revealed new details, including a first wave of conference programming, for its 40th anniversary event, taking place March 12–18 in downtown Austin. 

For the first time, SXSW will feature a fully integrated seven-day schedule across its trio of core programs, with downtown Austin transforming into a creative village anchored by three “clubhouses” — Innovation at Brazos Hall, Film & TV at 800 Congress, and Music at The Downright — designed to simplify navigation and foster collaboration throughout the all-in-one event.

To enhance accessibility, SXSW 2026 will introduce a refreshed badge system with daily reservations — another first for the festival. Platinum badge holders gain access to all clubhouses and programming, plus three reservations daily with priority booking. Innovation, Film & TV, and Music badge holders receive two daily reservations, access to their dedicated clubhouse and entry to keynotes and featured sessions.

Greg Rosenbaum, SXSW’s svp of programming, emphasized that the 40th year focuses on delivering a “more rewarding” attendee experience, adding, “the programming we’re unveiling shows the incredible range of conversations that define SXSW — from how AI is reshaping creativity and business, to the future of media and marketing, to bold ideas on human connection.”

SXSW continues to build on its four-decade legacy as a premier music, arts, film and technology conference and festival, first launched in Austin, in 1987. Since Penske Media — parent company of Billboard — acquired a majority stake two years ago, the brand has expanded its reach to three continents, now hosting flagship events in Austin, Sydney and London.

Over 50 Conference sessions have been announced, spanning topics like AI, media, marketing, health and climate. Attendees can join The All-American Rejects for a conversation on independent touring, check out a discussion on independence in music with Russ and TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson, and check out futurist Amy Webb’s Emerging Tech Trend Report, among others.

Featured Session Highlights (via SXSW):

5 Non-Obvious Secrets of Human Connection (For Love & Profit): Rohit Bhargava (Non-Obvious Company Founder & Chief Trend Curator) shares five counterintuitive secrets for building authentic human connection in a tech-driven world.

5 Traits of Successful AI Projects: From Pilot to Real ROI: Sandy Carter (Chief Business Development Officer & COO, Unstoppable Domains) reveals the roadmap for turning AI pilots into scalable, ROI-driven successes.

Actionable Ikigai: Career Planning in the Age of AI:Join Mike Bechtel (Futurist, University of Notre Dame) as he explores how to apply the Japanese concept of ikigai to build meaningful careers in an AI-driven world.

A Conversation with The All-American Rejects: The All-American Rejects discuss their House Party Tour and how independent artists can build community-driven touring experiences outside traditional venues.

Amy Webb Launches 2026 Emerging Tech Trend Report: Renowned futurist Amy Webb (CEO, Future Today Strategy Group) unveils her annual forecast on the technologies set to shape the year ahead.

Breaking Through Barriers to Innovation: Lessons from Space and Earth: Dava Newman (Apollo Professor of Astronautics, MIT) reveals bold strategies for harnessing breakthroughs in AI, climate, energy, and space to drive transformative innovation.

A Conversation with Jack Conte: Join Jack Conte (CEO and co-founder, Patreon) for a discussion on the current state and future of the creator economy.

How CMOs are Rewriting the Rules of Connection: Lauren Stafford Webb (Chief Marketing Officer, SoFi), Brian Irving (Chief Marketing Officer, Lyft), and Allison Stransky (Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics America) join Axios reporter Eleanor Hawkins for a conversation on how today’s CMOs are using AI to supercharge growth in personalized experiences.

How to Design a Company That AI Can’t Outpace: Ian Beacraft (CEO, Signal and Cipher) explores how to future-proof organizations by building strategies AI can’t outrun.

The Latticework of Mental Models For a Great Life: Mohnish Pabrai (Founder and Managing Partner, Pabrai Investment Funds) explores the mental models that have guided his biggest decisions, sharing timeless lessons and new insights on building a successful and fulfilling life.

Make Your Own Wave – Russ & Andreea Gleeson on Independence: Russ (Artist/Author/Co-Founder, DIEMON) and Andreea Gleeson (Chief Executive Officer, TuneCore) discuss how independence, fan engagement, and alternative strategies fueled Russ’s global success.

Reclaiming Our Humanity in the Age of AI:Timnit Gebru (Founder & Executive Director, DAIR), John Palfrey (President, MacArthur Foundation), and journalist Karen Hao explore how to ensure AI serves people rather than controls them.

Social Media Masterclass 2026 with Ex-YouTube & Instagram Insider: Jon Youshaei (Founder, Youshaei Studios) reveals how great ideas fuel great content and social media success.

SuperJoost’s State of Play 2026: Joost van Dreunen (Video Games Professor, NYU & Co-Founder, ALDORA) delivers SXSW’s annual briefing on how games forecast the future of media, tech, and culture.

The Innovation Engine You’ve Never Heard of: Your Neighbor: André Zdanow (President, FirstBuild) shows how GE Appliances turned community co-creation, rapid failures, and crowdfunding into million-dollar product successes.

The Science of Scaling: Using Data to Decide When—and How Fast—to Scale Revenue: Mark Roberge (Co-Founder, Stage 2 Capital) discusses how startups and innovators can use data to determine when and how fast to scale sales.

Trusted, Valued, Essential: Why PBS is Here to Stay, With or Without Federal Funding: A fireside chat with Paula Kerger (President & CEO, PBS) on how funding cuts tested resilience, rallied communities, and proved PBS delivers what commercial media cannot.

Why Saying Yes to the Unthinkable Works: Raja Rajamannar (Chief Marketing Officer, Mastercard) reveals how bold ideas once dismissed as impossible became breakthrough successes, and why leaders should embrace unpolished thinking to spark real impact.