Several top contemporary Christian Music artists will be leading worship at the upcoming memorial service for late conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday, Sept. 21. Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham, Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe Carnes are set to lead a time of worship during the service, according to the event’s website.

“Building A Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk” is slated for Sunday, Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The event begins at 11 a.m. local time.

Other performers during the event will include “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood and recording artist Steve Amerson. Among those who will be offering remarks during the event are Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

Kirk, who founded the youth conservative organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during a question-and-answer session at a Turning Point USA “The American Comeback Tour” event, held at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Since Kirk’s passing, several music artists have spoken out, among them Lake, Tomlin, Wickham and Carnes.

Lake spoke out in a video on social media, saying in part, “This one hit me hard. Of course I’m praying for the family, and me and [Lake’s wife] Brittany have been processing the last two days and have been sick to our stomachs…I’ve been processing a few things. One, just the loss of his life and how that breaks my heart too, as someone who doesn’t do what he did, but who’s representing Christ on a platform and large spaces with large crowds. I have felt two things: one, immediate fear. But then I have felt God remove that fear with his love and give me confidence and a renewed confidence and a surety that…I do believe this and I will represent this and share the Gospel, no matter the cost and the way that I feel God’s calling me to do that.”

“And so I feel I feel a fire,” Lake continued, later adding, “I’m just trying my best to hear from God and represent him and encourage people.”

Tomlin wrote on Instagram, “My heart and prayers to Erika Kirk and her 2 children…what a tragic moment for our nation. I appreciate how Charlie was bold and unashamed in his faith…THE FURTHER A SOCIETY DRIFTS FROM THE TRUTH. THE MORE IT WILL HATE THOSE THAT SPEAK IT.”

Wickham also spoke out on Instagram, writing in part, “My heart is grieved and heavy. It’s difficult to process the horrific evil, hatred and violence that we have seen in our country today and in this past week. I pray God’s hand of comfort and peace and nearness over Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones. That in the brokenness of their hearts God would meet them as He has promised to do.”

Carnes shared on Instagram, “Let us grieve the evil..and as we grieve, sow those seeds of love that snuff it out,” and including Biblical scriptures, including Psalm 126:5 and John 1:5.”

JD Twitch, one half of the Scottish DJ duo Optimo (Espacio), has died following a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer earlier this year. He was 57.

The producer and DJ, whose real name was Keith McIvor, passed away on Friday (Sept. 19) at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. His longtime musical partner Jonnie Wilkes (aka JG Wilkes) announced the news the following day through social media.

“In a 28 year partnership he changed my life immeasurably and together we took our work in directions and to places few people are lucky enough to explore,” Wilkes wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo gallery of McIvor. “I am forever grateful for everything he bestowed on me, both as a partner in music and as a friend.”

He continued, “Keith’s intensity and passion for life, for music, for creativity and for positive change simply never let up. He was formidable. His belief in people and the idea that standing together, that our collective strength is powerful was unwavering. I loved him for that.”

Wilkes closed his heartfelt tribute by offering condolences to McIvor’s family and friends.

“Thank you to them and the extended group who have tirelessly supported Keith and each other in the last few months. Thank you to the staff at The Hospice who made this last while as good as it possibly could be,” he wrote. “Keith left us far too soon. He will go now to travel those space-ways but I know his energy remains in every one of us who had the privilege of knowing him. I love you forever Keith.”

Born in Edinburgh, McIvor made his name in the ’90s by establishing the influential club night Pure, before relocating to Glasgow. There, he met Wilkes and in 1997, the pair launched Optimo at the city’s Sub Club. Named after the 1983 track by Liquid Liquid, Optimo became an influential Sunday night event, hosting acts like LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand, Cut Copy, The Rapture, TV on the Radio, and Hot Chip. The weekly party ran until 2010.

As Optimo (Espacio), McIvor and Wilkes were renowned for their expertly curated and often transcendent sets, performing at festivals and clubs across the globe. The duo remained active in touring, music production and running their record label.

In July 2025, McIvor publicly revealed his diagnosis, sharing details of his illness on Instagram. Optimo’s account also announced a fundraiser to help cover the costs of private nursing care and support services.

“My symptoms weren’t immediately diagnosed, and my health declined very quickly over just a few weeks,” McIvor wrote in a July 3 post on Instagram. He went on to thank “everyone who has supported me throughout my journey in music, from the early days of Pure in Edinburgh in the ’90s and through the past 28 years of Optimo (Espacio). Jonnie and I have been lucky enough to play out music at countless clubs and festivals throughout the world, and it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to make a career out of something I love. We have connected with so many beautiful souls through our shared passion for music.”

See Wilkes’ post about McIvor’s passing on Instagram here.

This week in New York, Mark Ronson celebrated his 50th birthday — and the launch of his book, Night People: How to Be a DJ in ’90s New York City — and all of the right “night people” were there.

Ronson’s literary agent David Kuhn hosted the star-packed party at his new hot spot Chez Nous, the newly opened restaurant he co-owns inside the historic Marlton Hotel in Greenwich Village, and in his toast, Kuhn recalled meeting Ronson in the ’80s, when “Mark was a teenager who was starting to DJ at clubs that were way cooler than I was.”

“I first met Mark at one of his miraculous mother Ann’s legendary Sunday brunches in the 1980s, always a mix of uptown and downtown, the famous and sometime infamous, and always multi-generational,” Kuhn recalled in his speech, describing the gatherings thrown by Ronson’s mother, Ann Dexter-Jones, who married Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones after divorcing his father.

“Most of you know this was the social and cultural swirl that Mark grew up in, one that might have caused another kid in his shoes to become jaded, or entitled, or lazy, or unfocused. And the amazing thing about Mark is that he is not only none of those things but actually the opposite of all of them: he grew up to be curious, grateful, incredibly hard working, determined, and most of all humble, this despite his incredible talent and success.”

While music stars often enlist ghostwriters to help pen their memoirs, Kuhn said that “it was quickly apparent that not only could Mark write the book himself, but that he was a natural and gifted writer. Because he innately possessed the core strengths of a literary memoirist: hard won self-knowledge; a gift for storytelling; excellent recall; an ear for dialogue, a point of view, and a big, generous heart.”

Rosnon initially wondered if he needed to work with a co-writer, but he and Kuhn decided instead that “he would just start putting stories down on the page and see where that led.”

“Mark said that he wanted to tell the story in this book to capture the milieu of the ’90s that he grew up in, especially for younger folks who weren’t there, and also to honor those who he credited with his musical education, especially those no longer around,” Kuhn said.

“As Mark writes in the book, and is now speaking about in interviews, one of the addictive pleasures of being a DJ has always been to use his musical tastes and instincts to light up a dance floor and give a room full of strangers unmitigated pleasure. Now he will do that as a book author, speaking one-to-one to each of his readers.”

The playlist for the party featured every song mentioned in Ronson’s book, sequenced in the exact order they appear on the page. Guests sipped “Mark-aritas” in the restaurant’s cozy banquettes and included Elle Fanning, Derek Blasberg, Cey Adams, Guy Oseary, Carmen D’Alessio, Premier, DJ Stretch Armstrong, Lysa Cooper, Steve Lewis, Belinda Becker, Andrew Jarecki, Jen Gatien, Amy Sedaris, Naomi Fry, Jenny Dembrow, Isabella Massenet, Nicky Campbell, Pamela Hanson, and more. See the photos below.

While BINI‘s first U.S. tour dates this summer already felt like a milestone for the Philippines’ biggest girl group, that proved to be only the start of a year filled with crucial crossover moments in music and beyond.

After the Biniverse World Tour hit major stops from Los Angeles and New York to Toronto, London and Dubai, the eight-piece act once again extended its global footprint by carving out a historic space for themselves on the American festival circuit, launching a complete beauty line and bringing a part of Filipino childhoods to the global-pop market.

Earlier this week, BINI made history as the first Filipino group booked to perform at Coachella — a festival that still functions as a key industry tastemaker and signal of who to watch each year. The announcement follows their newest single “Shagidi” and the launch of BINI Cosmetics, a beauty line the group says was built from the inside out for their fans — affectionately known as Blooms — and arrives at a moment when Filipino culture is gaining new visibility on the global stage. Together, the moves read like proof of intent: BINI now reaches more than 16 million followers across social platforms and they’re using that reach to put Filipino music and aesthetics in new rooms.

“When we were on the Zach Sang Show earlier this year, we said out loud that we dreamed of performing at Coachella and now it’s really happening,” the group says in an exclusive statement to Billboard following the news. “To see that manifestation come true is beyond surreal. Being part of the 2026 lineup isn’t just a milestone for BINI, it’s a moment for Filipino music and for everyone who has believed in us since the beginning. We can’t wait to bring our music and our culture to the desert stage.”

BINI’s latest single, “Shagidi,” is another modern-musical translation of Filipino tradition. Playful and upbeat, the track takes its cue from a children’s game in the Philippines called “Shagidi Shapopo” and reframes it as a pop hit — not so dissimilar from ROSÉ and Bruno Mars‘ massive “APT.,” which turned a Korean drinking game into a hook-heavy Billboard Hot 100 hit. Both songs are accessible cultural touchstones meant to connect new audiences with the singers themselves, but also their backgrounds.

A similarly personal ethos drove BINI Cosmetics. “Our beauty line is more than just colors; it’s our heart showing up,” the group adds. “We were involved in every step, choosing shades, designing packaging, even the naming of each product, because we wanted something that speaks to us and to every Bloom out there. We want people to feel seen, to feel confident doing their own thing, whether you wear makeup every day or just sometimes. It’s for everyone, no filters, no limitations.”

Below, members Jhoanna, Aiah, Gwen, Colet, Stacey, Maloi, Mikha, and Sheena walk us through late-night palette debates, as well as the pressure, joys and creative process behind their first U.S. concerts, and how these milestones fit into a larger plan to bring the Philippines’ pop sound — and Filipino creatives — to new stages around the world.

How did you feel about your first-ever U.S. show being in New York City?

 Sheena: Of course we felt so blessed, so grateful, and so proud with our first stop in the U.S. in New York because,  honestly, this whole world tour and especially here in North America, was really us taking a risk. We know ourselves that we don’t have that many Blooms here compared to our families in the Philippines. But we have a saying that even if we’re performing in front of a thousand Blooms, hundreds or even just one Bloom, we will always give our best and show and excellence because that’s the show that our Blooms deserve.

It’s interesting that you call it a risk given the big crowd you had at the Theater at MSG. What were your concerns?

Aiah:  When we learned about the venues, the capacity of each arena, we told our management, “Can we really feel this? Are you sure?” Or even just half of them, we were very doubtful. But like we said, we thought, “Let’s just take the risk,” you know? And perform for our Blooms.

Jhoanna:  And having a sold-out concert, that’s just a bonus for us.

Getting to see your concert showed me how important live vocals are to your show. Many times, you’re all singing the choruses, you get to show off some Christina Aguilera ad-libs moments. Why is the vocal aspect important to a BINI show?

Maloi:  I think that is what we trained for. Like we trained for almost — how many years? — two years. And we are still training now. So, I think it’s very important for us to show what we can really do.  Seeing people appreciate what we can do or what we have is so nice to see: to see their comments and even their constructive criticisms for us to be better performers. For me, I enjoy it more if I sing live and if I do make a mistake live, I think that’s the beauty of it — the rawness of our voices. You can hear the beats, the voice cracks and everything. It makes you feel more like, “I’m here and this is life.”

Stacey: Most of the time and most of the performances, we’ll have issues with the technical [aspects], with the sound, our in-ears, our microphones; but we are grateful for the sound engineers because they can fix everything fast.

Aiah: Every show is unpredictable and you won’t always get to have a perfect one. So, sometimes it really is a trial and error because we go to different stages, we have to rehearse it in ways to make sure it’s all good and we’re ready just in case things aren’t working. But when you perform, sometimes, even if you have rehearsed for it, anything can really happen.

Mikha: Especially with the clothes. We don’t wear the same clothes every concert and we don’t really have time to do dress rehearsals [with every outfit], so it’s kind of hectic backstage. We’ll get our sound engineers to help us out, also, even though it’s not their job to do it. People who aren’t supposed to help us or be assistant stylists become assistant stylists because of everything. But that’s good, you know? We’re all all-rounders now. [Laughs] I think people think that we’re a big team, but in reality, it’s so few. We just make it look like a whole crowd is working for us, but it’s really quite intimate and small.

Speaking of clothes, the fashion on tour was really stunning and something I hadn’t seen before. Do you get a say in what you wear?

Maloi: Of course, every time we go out on stage, we always make sure that we show our branding, our true selves like this. The [regular] clothes that we are wearing right now, this is who we are and another representation of who we are, how we style ourselves, and how we want to be perceived by other people. I think it’s love also because our stylist, our visual director at the Ica [Villanueva], is always there for us to make sure that we look good on stage and, as much as she can, wants to make every stage unique. So, we are just so grateful that we have these unique looks that are at the same time cohesive. Every girl is different, but cohesive at the same time.

 Colet: When it comes to outfits, our visual director, Ms. Ica, always aims for the top Filipino designers. So, we always have our go-tos like Marian Zara, Iñigo [Villegas], RAFA Worldwide, everyone is Filipino. The New York show included a Filipino designer from here.

Gwen: And  we even do upcycling now, actually. So we’ll use bottles of soda and soft drinks and we put that into our outfits.

There were videos in between concert sections where we saw some elaborate headdresses, gowns and other looks. Was that another way to show your culture?

 Mikha: That was Ms. Ica’s idea, of course. She wanted to add the headdresses because I think it was designed locally.

Maloi:  And it’s very eccentric which is very good. Because we really want to be unique in this industry, not just being the traditionally Filipino look, but we want to be something more extra. I think it was  inspired from our Filipino farmer caps. But make it extra, make it fashion.

Mikha: They’re actually heavy, we were struggling. [Laughing] Our gowns were heavy too.

Jhoanna: The gowns were shipped from a province and each of the dresses came in a big, individual box. I think they weighed around, probably, more than two or three kilos [approximately 4.4-6.6 pounds] or something…

Group: More!

These all bring out so many cool messages, but I wonder from all these separate elements, what do you say is BINI’s larger message?

Gwen:  Just like the messages of our songs, we always want to inspire people to embrace their flaws, to be authentic, love yourself and celebrate each other’s uniqueness. We strongly believe that everybody is capable of inspiring, so we say let’s be a reason for someone’s confidence.

 How do you arrive at that message? Did you need to find that confidence within yourselves to share it with others?

Mikha:  I think it’s an everyday struggle. Yeah. You know, to be the best version of yourself and also accept your flaws. But I think I wouldn’t want to speak for everyone here, but for me personally, there are times that I don’t feel that great and that’s okay as long as you don’t really affect the people around you in a negative way.

Having a clear message is important when you’re actively crossing over like I see you doing. Do you have a mindset or strategy to approaching your global expansion?

Stacey:  Right now, I would say we are still in our testing of waters, but we really want to tap into people from all over the world and reach a wider audience. That’s also the reason why we collaborated with artists from different parts of the world like Belinda and Agnez Mo.  So, hopefully, in the future we get to tap more artists and that hopefully allows us to reach audiences and get them to like Philippine-pop and know more artists in our country. It’s really hard and pressuring but, well, I think pressure is good and just like our songs, “Zero Pressure” you won’t get  the diamond if you don’t have your pressure. So pressure is good.

Sheena:  Even with these changes, we always make sure to stay true to who we are.

Maloi:  We’re just so grateful that we cross borders through our music. We always try to make music that can capture through generations, from young to old, we’re just so happy that people resonate with our music because we really just want to share our experiences in life, be relatable and someone that you can be with or feel with.

Stacey: And music is a universal language.

Belinda on the “Blink Twice” remix was very cool and really speaks to how you’re reaching out to audiences. Is there any connection you see between Filipino pop and Latin music?

Mikha:  Actually, our management, they’re the ones who set it up with Belinda, but we were so excited because she’s an icon in her country and we listened to her music. It’s really amazing her voice and she can switch her voice depending on what type of song she’s singing. She’s also a good dancer! I guess we were also interested to tap into Latin [music] because there are a lot of similarities with Tagalog and Latin American country languages and Spanish. She was amazing in that song too.  We actually heard a version of just her singing the song and I was like, “You know what? She should just take the song!” [Laughs] Hopefully we can perform it and share the stage together.

Are there other artists you think would fit well on a BINI song?

Colet: “Out of My Head” with Dua Lipa!

Mikha: I was thinking “Zero Pressure” with Dua Lipa.

Sheena: A whole album with Dua Lipa. [Laughs]

Mikha: We actually have a song that hasn’t been released that I think Sabrina Carpenter would actually fit really well on, but that’s just a sneak peak!

How do you describe BINI’s sound?

Colet: On the technical side, I think BINI’s sound right now is diverse and experimental. Yes, we already found the bubblegum pop genre, but I think it’d be nice  if we have a lot of genres for people to listen to and choose whatever they feel at the moment.  But on. On an emotional level, we’re always aiming for uplifting, light and inspirational songs. So, whenever we put out music out there, it should feel like a hug — we hug everyone — it should feel comforting.

I felt that sense of comfort, particularly at the NY concert, when you shouted out Pride Month several times. Why was that important to emphasize?

Jhoanna:  Pride month is something we hold close to our hearts because BINI is all about inclusivity, empowerment and love, and that includes our LGBTQIA+ Blooms. We believe in celebrating everyone for who they are.  We just wanna be welcoming and very accepting of them. So that’s why we are all about that. We support them.

Mikha:  I think women and feminism has come a long way in the past, and I think women and all the LGBTQ community have become united and I think it’s very nice.  I think we’re almost there. You know, there’s still so much to do but I think that we’ve come a long way from how it was before in the past.

Jhoanna:  We want to remind them that they’re valid, that they are feeling our love and using our platform — it’s a really big help for them.

Sheena:  And personally I feel like we have a lot of gay friends or look up to a lot of gay icons and we try our best to protect them.  Because we also feel hurt when people say some things about them that are not true.  Actually, I feel like the RuPaul’s Drag Race really help in the Philippines to love gay people. Even me honestly, I started learning about RuPaul’s Drag Race because of the Philippine branch. And because of that I started watching different branches here in U.S., Australia, everywhere. Right now, it’s very active — we’ll even go to gay bars, we watch the shows, we perform.

Jhoanna:  She’s the Drag Race ambassador. We were supposed to celebrate her 21st birthday and she invited a lot of drag queens to perform for her.

I feel like your cosmetics line aligns with that mindset: you want to accept everyone and share what you love.

Mikha: We were very hands on when involved, it was very draining actually. There are so many ideas, products and colors to choose from — not just the formulas. There was so much going on in that meeting. Thank God though we have a team who are also helping and guiding us on what’s best and everything like that so we could come to an agreement.

Gwen: We made sure the products are easy to use and affordable. Cherry Blush can go on your eyes, cheeks, and lips. It’s not just for girls; it’s for everyone who wants to feel fresh and confident in their own style.

 Stacey: We love products that will stay because it’s very humid in the Philippines. So when we were creating the formulas, we not only thought of what we like, but also for everyone. Like, “Is it going to work with morena?” Morena is like the brown skin of our beautiful Filipinos.

Jhoanna: BINI Cosmetics is us, in color, choices we actually made together from the shade names to the packaging, down to how it should feel when you wear it. We wanted a kit that travels with you: Eye Candy for quick looks, touches like Lip Jelly that make confidence feel easy. If it empowers our Blooms to show up as themselves, that’s the win.

Mikha: We built this line to move the way we move, from rehearsals to show time to rest days. The goal was pigments and textures that play well together, so you can turn it up with Pout Pop and Cloud Lash. It’s not just about looking pretty; it’s about owning your mood and telling your story.

Now that Coachella has happened, are there other goals you want to put out there?

Stacey:  Well, our goal in being is always to improve And in terms of music. We want to hopefully be like a song book wherein whenever they open it, we have various songs that will really hit all their emotions. So hopefully with the future songs that we’ll be producing, we’re not only gonna capture their hearts, but also their ears in a way that it’ll also make them feel seen.  We really aren’t stopping. For whatever opportunities that are there for us, we’re always explorative and on the hunt for whatever it is that will add to our growth.

Jhoanna: Also, more international awards and collaborations.

Sheena: We want to perform on the main KCON stage as a complete eight. And shoutout to ENHYPEN, I miss you.

You’ve filmed TikTok challenges together with the ENHYPEN members at KCON. How was that?

Sheena: So, with ENHYPEN, I feel music-wise that me and Me and Colet really like their sound — when they release “FEVER” back in 2021 is when we started being a fan. Our collaboration was arranged by our managements in LA and  we also did a TikTok together when they had a concert in the Philippines. So, we already have two interactions. One more to go and we’re friends. [Group Laughs] I just need to manifest. I appreciate them.

Any other shoutouts?

Mikha: Hi Dua Lipa. And hi Sabrina. Hi BLACKPINK!

Jhoanna: Everyone, really, all the talented artists.

Sheena: Hi Clairo!

Anything else we can look forward to for what’s next?

Jhoanna: We have a lot tracks to be released soon and it’s all new flavors, new vibes, different feelings. We’re very excited for these songs to be out with both English and Tagalog songs.

Aiah: Thank you so much to our Blooms for always supporting BINI. Expect more songs, more performances, more meet and greets and…what else?

Jhoanna: I hope you don’t get overwhelmed with all the activations and changes for this year with BINI! We are so excited. See you soon!