Since Cardi already confirmed (and defended her decision to include) her and Meg’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “WAP” would be on Am I the Drama?, it’s no surprise to see the Htown Hottie’s name on the list. Cardi had also previously tapped Kehlani on “Ring” from her 2018 debut album Invasion of Privacy. Lizzo featured Cardi on her 2021 single “Rumors,” which reached No. 4 on the Hot 100. And Walker included “Bitter – Narration by Cardi B” on her Billboard 200-topping sophomore album Still Over It, which also featured Cardi’s extended version of Walker and SZA’s “No Love” single. Cardi and Gomez have also previously collaborated on DJ Snake‘s 2018 smash “Taki Taki,” also featuring Ozuna.
In July 2024, the Bronx native teased a song meant for her second album that samples Jackson’s “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)” from her 1986 album Control.
Am I the Drama? drops Friday, Sept. 19 via Atlantic Records. Outside of her chart-topping hits “WAP” and “Up,” Cardi has released two more singles ahead of her long-awaited full-length project: the Hot 100 top 10 “Outside” and the Jay Z-sampling “Imaginary Playerz.”
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Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) chairman and CEO Jody Gerson has been named to Gap Inc.’s board of directors, Gap announced Monday (Sept. 15).
Gerson, who joined UMPG in 2015, is notable as the first female CEO of a major music publisher and the first woman to chair a global music company. She has signed artists including Adele, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Coldplay and led the acquisition of catalogs from music legends like Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Sting. She also serves on the boards of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Ancestry.com, Project Healthy Minds and the National Music Publishers Association. She’s a co-founder of the nonprofit She Is the Music.
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“Jody is a cultural force in her own right,” said Richard Dickson, president/CEO of Gap Inc., in a statement. “Her insights into fashiontainment — our platform at the intersection of fashion, music and celebrity — are unmatched. At Gap Inc., we’ve always believed that style is a form of storytelling, and Jody’s ability to amplify voices and shape cultural moments will be invaluable as we continue redefining what it means to be an iconic, purpose-led house of brands.”
Added Mayo A. Shattuck III, chair of the board at Gap Inc.: “Jody’s ability to connect culture and commerce is exactly what makes her such a dynamic leader. Her vision and creativity will help us strengthen our brands’ resonance with the next generation of consumers.”
Said Gerson, “Gap Inc. has long been a cultural icon, bridging fashion, music, and identity. I’m honored to join Gap Inc.’s Board of Directors and excited to bring my perspective and experience in the creative industries to the table. Equally, I’m energized to support Richard Dickson’s vision and draw inspiration from Gap’s remarkable renaissance as a brand that’s become synonymous with the culture of music.”
Notably, Gap recently made waves with its “Better in Denim” commercial featuring Katseye, which garnered more than 400 million views and 8 billion impressions across platforms while becoming the No. 1 search on TikTok, according to a press release.
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Mexican singer-songwriter and musician Julieta Venegas has signed with global talent agency WME, Billboard can exclusively announce. The partnership comes as Venegas prepares to release new music and strengthen her reach on the international stage.
“I’m really happy recording songs that will soon be part of my new album,” the Tijuana-born artist tells Billboard Español. “I’m excited to add people to my team who bring the kind of enthusiasm and experience that WME has, so we can work together to develop this new chapter.”
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Over the course of her career, Venegas — who sings, writes, and plays the accordion and guitar — has had a significant presence on the Billboard charts, with four of her albums reaching the top 10 of Top Latin Albums. Those include 2006’s Limón y Sal, which peaked at No. 8, and both Otra Cosa (2010) and Algo Sucede (2015), which peaked at No. 5. On Hot Latin Songs, “Algo Esta Cambiando,” “Eres Para Mi,” and “Me Voy” reached Nos. 4, 5 and 9, respectively.
Venegas has collaborated with prominent artists such as Tainy, Bad Bunny, Sen Senra, Dom La Nena, No Te Va a Gustar and Grupo Marca Registrada. Her work with Tainy and Bad Bunny on “Lo Siento BB :/” — which earned the 2022 Latin Grammy for best reggaeton performance — reached the coveted Billboard Hot 100 at No. 51 and Hot Latin Songs at No. 2. To date, the two-time Grammy and 11-time Latin Grammy-winning artist has released eight studio albums, starting with the Gustavo Santaolalla-produced Aquí (1997) and including her most recent project, Tu Historia (2022).
Last year, Venegas performed for 90,000 fans in Mexico City’s Zócalo and for 85,000 at Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium during The Evening of the Year. Throughout her career, she has graced the stages of major international festivals, including Mexico’s Vive Latino, Primavera Sound Buenos Aires and Picnic Festival Costa Rica. Her music has earned gold and platinum certifications in markets such as Mexico, Spain, the United States, Italy, Argentina and Brazil.
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With the 60-year anniversary of the Pink Floyd’s founding officially here, the rock band is bigger than ever as new generations of fans discover their music.
Whether you’re an old or new fan, we rounded up the best Pink Floyd merch and apparel to show off your love and pride for the band on Amazon. In fact, Pink Floyd has an official store from the retail giant that features t-shirts, logo apparel, totes, baseball tees, phone accessories and more.
And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can order now and any one Pink Floyd merch and apparel item will be delivered to your home in less than two days once it’s released, thanks to Prime Delivery.
Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Amazon Music for online music streaming, Prime Video and Prime Gaming; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day in October and Black Friday in November — and much more. Learn more about Amazon Prime and its benefits here.
Meanwhile, Pink Floyd’s classic album Wish You Were Here just received a 50th anniversary reissue with a new remastered recording and a new set of additional bonus tracks. Additionally, the band’s live album, Pink Floyd at Pompeii: MCMLXXII, received the reissue treatment earlier this year for the band’s 60th anniversary.
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.pngYveto2025-09-15 19:47:572025-09-15 19:47:57Pink Floyd’s Official Online Store Has T-Shirts, Hoodies & More New Merch for Fans
Nnegest Likké, a filmmaker of Ethiopian, Nigerian and African American descent, said in a Premium Times interview earlier this year that “African Queen,” the heartwarming ballad by Nigerian hitmaker 2baba, “struck a universal chord with the world” 20 years ago — especially after Likké included it in her 2006 comedy Phat Girlz.
Named the No. 1 song on Billboard‘s 50 best Afrobeats songs of all time list last month, “African Queen” is also one of the first Afrobeats songs to be incorporated in a Hollywood production, a phenomenon that has grown significantly over the last five years with the genre’s rising popularity across the globe. Now, Billboard is rounding up more Afropop music moments in TV and film: “African Queen” is not the only song from Billboard‘s best Afrobeats songs list that makes this one, as Wizkid and Tems‘ “Essence,” Skales’ “Shake Body” and Yemi Alade‘s “Johnny” have also been featured on the small and silver screens.
Outside of appearing during the third and final season of the Sex and the City spinoff series And Just Like That, “Essence” has also been featured on the CW sports drama series All American and the AppleTV+ sports comedy drama series Ted Lasso. Another Tems track, her 2020 For Broken Ears sleeper hit “Higher,” appeared on All American, while Ted Lasso spotlighted 1da Banton’s 2021 hit “No Wahala” and Tekno’s 2020 single “Enjoy” during its third and final season. And alté trailblazer Odunsi (The Engine) and Runtown’s “Star Signs” appeared in both Netflix’s British teen sex comedy drama series Sex Education and HBO’s sports comedy drama series Ballers.
Below, Billboard rounds up 15 moments where Afropop songs have soundtracked weddings, strip clubs and more on-screen moments, in order from newest to oldest. This list excludes songs that African artists intentionally recorded for TV show and movie soundtracks (although said list could be coming soon).
Cardi B may have dozed off during her recent trial, but she’s not sleeping on preparations for her upcoming tour.
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While appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Monday (Sept. 15), the rapper reflected on her experience taking the stand while defending herself against allegations of assault this summer, and later confirmed that she’ll be hitting the road soon in support of her fast-approaching new album Am I the Drama? The appearance comes nearly two weeks after a judge ruled in Cardi’s favor following a weeklong trial regarding former security guard Emani Ellis’ allegations that the star had injured her during an altercation in 2018, which Cardi has consistently denied.
“I was very, very upset,” the Bronx native told Hudson of having to go to trial. “I’m in the middle of an album rollout, and I have to go to court. Then, when I get to court, I realize that it’s going to be on national TV, being televised. It’s like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ I missed my kids’ first day of school!”
At one point during the trial, fans who tuned in zoomed in on her face as Cardi appeared to fall asleep. When Hudson asked whether she’d indeed nodded off briefly in the courtroom, the Grammy winner admitted, “I’m not even going to lie, I was.”
“I had a long night!” she explained, laughing. “I’m in the middle of an album rollout. I was so sleepy, I was trying to fight it.”
Now that her trial is over, Cardi can turn all of her focus on the release of Am I the Drama?, which drops Friday (Sept. 19). And though she wasn’t thrilled about having to go to court during its rollout, she recently found humor in the situation by releasing copies of the album featuring photos of her in the courtroom as alternate artwork.
Another venture she’s planning for the album, she confirmed on Hudson’s show, is a tour. “Yes, I actually have an announcement coming soon!” she said, squealing with excitement. “I’m already preparing for it. I’m at the gym, and I’m taking dance classes already.”
Though she’s an experienced performer, Cardi’s upcoming trek is expected to mark her first-ever proper headlining tour. The star recently opened up about the possibility of touring for the first time in her September Billboard cover story, as well as criticism of how it took seven years after her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, to release a follow-up.
“A lot of people say I got comfortable because I make money, but the most money I make is when I go and do shows,” she told Billboard‘s senior director of R&B/hip-hop Carl Lamarre. “I could rush and put out music like it’s nothing and then pick up millions of dollars per show, but it’s not about that. I want the music to be great. I want it to be amazing.”
Shortly after the story went live, Cardi acceptedBillboard‘s Impact of the Year award at the 2025 R&B / Hip-Hop Power Players event. “I’m just so happy that I’m a part of something that I love,” she said during a speech. “I always dreamed about this career — I just felt like with the environment that I was in, dreaming was dreaming. Reality crushes your dreams. So I’m happy that my career is the career that I always dreamed of.”
Watch Cardi open up about her trial experience and upcoming tour below.
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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
If you’re looking for stylish sunglasses to complete your outfit, Shenseea has plenty of great options for you. Teaming up with Glasses USA, the Jamaican pop star has curated a selection of sunglasses and optical frames that fit her trendsetting personal style. From vibrant picks like the Muse Link shades to a more classic design in the Amelia E. Waverley frame, there are a variety of designs and styles to shop that’ll help level up your summer aesthetic.
Blending personal style with star power, this collaboration brings Shenseea’s sparkle to life through each frame. “For me, style is all about having fun and keeping it real,” says Shenseea in a statement. “This collection with GlassesUSA.com is about wearing what makes you feel good and confident – just being yourself.”
The collection includes oversized silhouettes, sleek cat-eyes, tinted lenses, and glossy finishes designed to move seamlessly from day to night. Whether you’re heading to a rooftop party, a festival, or simply grabbing coffee with friends, these frames are made to add a burst of personality to any look.
“Shenseea’s style is about confidence and energy,” said Arie Tom, CMO of GlassesUSA.com in the press release. “We wanted this collection to feel like her music- fresh, vibrant, and impossible to ignore. These frames are a reflection of who you are. Like Shenseea says, we took it to the max- bold designs, interesting details, and held nothing back.”
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.pngYveto2025-09-15 19:42:242025-09-15 19:42:24Shenseea Teams Up With GlassesUSA to Celebrate Her Favorite Sunglasses: Get Them for $39
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere in Las Vegas has sold more than 500,000 tickets since launching on Aug. 28, generating over $65 million in ticket sales, according to an announcement from Madison Square Garden on Monday (Sept. 15). Notably, 280,000 of those tickets were sold after the film’s Aug. 28 premiere (tickets first went on sale to the public on June 10).
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Sphere executives have long hoped that the AI-enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz would be a hit for the iconic Las Vegas venue, which cost $2.3 billion to build. The AI-assisted remake of the 1939 classic film is part of the Sphere Experience — one element of a four-pronged business model for the venue, which also hosts concerts and sporting events, books private corporate parties and sells advertising on the venue’s exoskeleton.
Sphere’s success is inexorably linked to its ability to book artists for residencies, which have so far included bands like Eagles and Dead & Company. However, original non-live programming like Postcards From Earth — an original, hour-long film directed by Darren Aronofsky — and V-U2, a concert movie filmed over three nights of U2‘s Sphere residency, is also an important part of the calculus.
The Wizard of Oz represents the next chapter in original programming for the Sphere and could prove pivotal as part of CEO James Dolan‘s efforts to expand to other markets (a new Sphere in Abu Dhabi was announced in October 2024).Dolan saidThe Wizard of Oz cost up to $100 million to produce.
Last month, Backstreet Boys added 14 new dates to the group’s residency at Sphere, which runs through February 2026. The Eagles also recently announced four dates at the venue in January 2026. Concert promoter Insomniac and the Tomorrowland festival’s UNITY concerts, which will feature multiple artists, are slated for a nine-date run through Oct. 18, while Zac Brown Band kicks off a six-date residency in December and Mexican star Carín León is slated to play three dates in September 2026.
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.pngYveto2025-09-15 19:42:242025-09-15 19:42:24Sphere’s ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Box Office: Here’s How Much It’s Made So Far
Awards season is in full swing. Just a week after the Caribbean Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards mounted their latest ceremonies — both honoring Busta Rhymes, no less! — the 77th Primetime Emmys lauded some of the buzziest names in hip-hop and R&B.
Although both Beyoncé (Beyoncé Bowl) and Kendrick Lamar (Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show) lost outstanding variety special (live) to SNL50: The Anniversary Special, both artists took home some hardware at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmys, which were presented on Sept. 6 and 7. Queen Bey took home her very first Emmy for outstanding costumes for variety, nonfiction, or reality programming for her 2024 Netflix-hosted Christmas Day NFL halftime extravaganza, bringing her halfway to EGOT status. Already an Emmy winner, Lamar took home a second trophy (alongside Tony Russell) for outstanding music direction. Additionally, Doechii’s 2025 Grammy performance earned choreographer Robbie Blue an Emmy for outstanding choreography for variety or reality programming.
Outside of the Emmys, Cardi B hosted an NYC pop-up in anticipation of her Am I the Drama? album, The Carters graced the REFORM Alliance Casino Night Gala and Wyclef Jean wrapped a monumental, genre-fusing residency at the Blue Note Jazz Café.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Mobb Deep’s new single to 4batz & Flo’s new collaboration. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
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The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami has appointed Serona Elton as interim vice dean ahead of the institution’s 100th anniversary next year.
Elton will serve alongside Dean Shelton “Shelly” G. Berg — who was named dean of the Frost School of Music in 2007 — during his final year before he steps down in Spring 2026. Berg, who led the Frost School for nearly 20 years and has also been nominated for five Grammys, will return his focus to his music career.
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“I started my tenure at the Frost School of Music shortly before Dean Berg and it’s been an incredible experience to witness his impact on the school and collegiate level music education more broadly,” Elton, who’s also director of the music industry program at the Frost School of Music, said in a statement. “It’s my pleasure to be able to collaborate with him to help ensure the continued effectiveness of the school’s day-to-day operations as we continue to focus on creating the next wave of what we call ‘Frost Built’ students, who because of their education at the Frost School are uniquely set up to be best-in-class professionals in their fields thanks to the variety of skills they hone here.”
In her new role, Elton — who was honored with the first-ever music business educator of the year award by the Music Business Association (MusicBiz) in 2023 — will oversee the daily operations of the Frost School while continuing to serve as director of the music industry program.
Berg added: “I’ve always said that the future of music is the future that our student musicians and aspiring industry professionals will be able to create for themselves, and it’s been a privilege to be able to help Frost School of Music students chart a course for fulfillment and success by giving them access to an outstanding multidisciplinary curriculum, inspirational faculty, and priceless real-world experiences. From the day I started at the Frost School, I focused on setting a new standard for music schools and I feel confident that newly named Interim Vice Dean Serona Elton, along with the rest of our talented administrative staff and faculty members, will continue to tirelessly work to benefit the next generation of musicians and music industry professionals while actively shaping the future of music — no matter what it may look like in the coming years.”
The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, which turns 100 in October 2026, has been named a Top Music Business School by Billboard.
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