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.
With only four days till the release of Taylor Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl, it’s time to look back on the singer’s most iconic era.
It’s time to start donning your best Swift merch, because we’re only days away from the singer’s 12th studio album. What better way to celebrate this new era than by celebrating an older era, that era being 2014’s album 1989 and the 2023 re-up. To prep yourself for an album listening party you won’t forget, might we suggest shopping these 1989-themed slippers via Amazon?
Available in five different colorways, the slippers feature a wool-like plush fabric that’s embroidered with handwriting reminiscent of the font that is found on most Swift’s re-releases of her albums. At only $20, it’s almost worth collecting them all. Fans can choose from slippers that say “1989” in a light blue font, a set that features “1989” on one foot and “(Taylor’s Version)” on the other, as well as sets in a couple of different colors that feature “(Taylor’s,” “Version)” on either foot.
A multitude of sizes are available for both men and women. In addition to the slipper’s plush texture, they have a terry cloth lining and a high-density memory foam insole that comfortably molds to the wearer’s feet. They also have a non-slip rubber sole that will make it easy to run errands around or just outside of the house.
The titles, of course, are a nod to the fact that Swift began re-releasing recordings of her library of albums after they were sold. For each album, the singer-songwriter released additional tracks from each of the albums’ accompanying studio sessions, as well as updated merch. Each re-release was labeled “Taylor’s Version,” and fans have put those words to use as a rallying cry to support the artist as she took back control over her life’s work.
If you didn’t know, The Life of a Showgirl is a 2025 album by Swift set to release on Oct. 3 through Republic Records. The record was created during Swift’s life on the road, going from show to show during her Eras Tour. The 12th studio album features 12 tracks, including “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Father Figure,” “Honey,” “Wi$h Li$t” and “Ruin the Friendship,” among others. Sabrina Carpenter is said to feature on the album. Swift revealed her new album during an appearance on her fiancé Travis Kelce’s podcast “New Heights.”
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 21:40:452025-09-29 21:40:45Get Ready for the Release of Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ with These $20 Swiftie-Approved Slippers
Milo J’s “Niño” has topped Billboard’s latest new Latin music poll, published on Sept. 26.
In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, music fans voted for the Argentine artist’s new single as their favorite music release of the week.
It was truly a tight race but “Niño,” part of Milo J’s latest album La Vida Era Más Corta, took the lead by just a few points, coming in first place with 34.9% of the vote. Following closely in second place is Corina Smith’s album, Menos Triste, Más Mami with 34.5% and in third, Sebastián Yatra’s “Canción Para Regresar” in collab with Lucho RK, Belinda and Gente de Zona with 27.9% of the vote.
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Milo J’s “Niño” is a “poetic and moving ballad that fuses Argentine folklore with profound social reflection,” Billboard Español‘s Luisa Calle wrote about the song for New Music Latin. “Far from being simply a denunciation of marginalization, the song becomes a sincere embrace of vulnerable childhoods, highlighting the pain of those who grow up in poverty, neglect, and, often, are forced into crime as a means of survival.”
Since his breakthrough four years ago, the Argentine rapper and singer has teamed up with artists such as Peso Pluma, Duki, TINI, and Yahritza y Su Esencia. Most notably, Milo J’s “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 57” with Bizarrap reached No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart in 2023.
Editor’s Note: The weekly New Music Latin poll results are posted if the poll generates more than 1,000 votes.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 21:26:492025-09-29 21:26:49Fans Choose Milo J’s ‘Niño’ as Their Favorite New Latin Music of the Week
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.
The iPhone 17 lineup has finally arrived! Apple’s latest and greatest flagship smartphone line is receiving a fresh batch of hardware updates this year bringing with it an innovative front selfie camera, a powerful A19 and A19 Pro chip, and a new fleet of phone options to shop.
At their annual keynote event, Apple unveiled not one but four new smartphones: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone Air. Each new device will be equipped with the impressive A19 chip for improved performance and battery efficiency. The iPhone 17 features the six-core central processing unit that the company said is more than twice as fast as the A15 Bionic chip. The A19 Pro, which powers the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, delivers up to 40% better sustained performance than the previous generation, according to Apple.
Taking a similar approach to their popular MacBook Air line, Apple has created the first-ever iPhone Air. Starting at $999, the newcomer has an ultra-thin design that is just 5.6 millimeters thick, about 28% thinner than the standard iPhone 16. Even with its slim build, the device features the A19 Pro chip that delivers “pro performance in an unbelievably thin and light design,” Apple chief Tim Cook said during the presentation. Customers can get the iPhone Air “on us” when you switch to T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Go 5G Next plans.
When it comes to photography, the iPhone camera has always been an industry leader. With the 17, Apple continues to deliver excellent photo capturing features to improve upon its hardware. This year, the iPhone gets a “Center Stage” front camera that gives customers more options to take selfies; a powerful 48MP Fusion Main camera with an optical-quality 2x Telephoto; and a new 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera that captures expansive scenes and macro photography in more detail. The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion is bigger and brighter, enabling super smooth scrolling, immersive gaming, and improved efficiency.
If you want the most powerful specs and advanced features, the Pro phones are for you. The latest model gets a slight redesign featuring a brushed aluminum unibody for efficient thermal performance and more space for a larger battery. The Pro and Pro Max will be available in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes with Super Retina XDR displays that feature ProMotion up to 120Hz, an “Always-On” display and 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness — the highest ever on an iPhone.
Want the best trade-in deal for the iPhone 17? Over at T-Mobile, you can get a great discount of up to $1,100 off when you trade in a device and pick up a 17-series phone alongside a new unlimited line. Customers can add up to three lines per plan to see additional savings. T-Mobile says its plans could save you up to 20% compared to similar packages from other providers.
According to the criteria, the biggest discount is eligible with a trade of an iPhone 13 Pro or newer, but older devices can still get up to $820 off here. For those looking to switch over to T-Mobile, the company will give you an iPhone 17 “on us” when switching and adding a line on their Experience plan. T-Mobile is offering an impressive $1,000 rebate when you port your number over from a rival carrier. The switching deal can cover the entire cost of the iPhone Air, whereas the maximum trade-in rebate will cover an iPhone 17 Pro.
If you get a plan with T-Mobile, you’ll also gain access to their T-Satellite service, which gives customers access to free text messaging, location sharing and 911 emergency text services even in the most remote areas that typically struggle with traditional cellular service. T-Satellite is included for free on their best plans: Go5G Next and Experience Beyond. You can also add it for $10 a month per line on any qualifying plan—that’s $5 off for a limited time.
The iPhone 17, 17 Pro and the iPhone Air will now be available starting with 256GB of storage — double the entry storage from the previous generation — and a 512GB option. The base iPhone 17 comes in five beautiful colors: black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white, while the Pro phones will feature a silver, deep blue and cosmic orange color. The new iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air are available now at T-Mobile.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 21:22:302025-09-29 21:22:30How to Upgrade to the iPhone 17 for Free With T-Mobile’s Trade-In Deal
Cardi B‘s Am I The Drama? earned double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America on Monday (Sept. 29), just 10 days after the album’s release.
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“The drama just doubled @iamcardib’s #AmITheDrama? is now officially a 2x Platinum certified album! @atlanticrecords,” the RIAA wrote on X.
Am I The Drama? also became Cardi B’s second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 this week (chart dated Oct. 4), earning 200,000 equivalent album units. It marks 2025’s biggest week for an R&B/hip-hop album by a woman. The album arrives seven years after her six-time platinum debut album Invasion of Privacy, and all 13 of its tracks was certified platinum or higher in 2022, making Cardi the first female rapper to achieve the feat and extending her initial record as the first female artist to have every track on an album certified gold.
“Cardi B, every song platinum, I’m not the other bi—,” she rapped on the Jay Z-sampling single “Imaginary Playerz.” Now she can boast, “Cardi B, every album multiplatinum.”
See the RIAA’s latest announcement about Am I The Drama? below.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 21:08:302025-09-29 21:08:30Cardi B’s ‘Am I The Drama?’ Earns Double Platinum Certification 10 Days After Dropping
Ne-Yo shoved a concertgoer when a fan rushed him on stage while he was performing in Japan over the weekend.
Footage has gone viral of a fan climbing onto the stage while Ne-Yo was performing his 2007 smash “Because of You.” The Grammy-winning singer appeared surprised by the fan, and when they seemed to make it about themselves on stage, Ne-Yo grabbed the concertgoer by the neck and shoved them to the side.
Security finally realized what was going on and apprehended the trespassing fan while Ne-Yo didn’t miss a beat of his performance.
Ne-Yo had a message for anyone willing to try this stunt at future shows, warning fans in a repost of the contentious moment to his Instagram Story.
“This is what you DON’T do,” he wrote. “I’m a gentleman but I WILL slap the s–t out of a person for disrespecting my stage,” he wrote. “And then keep the party going. Don’t try me. All love, til it’s not.”
Ne-Yo continued: “Had he ran up with love I woulda let him rock for a minute…idiot. Don’t be this guy.”
A confused fan reacted to the clip on X: “I can see a women doing this. But a full grown man climbing on stage to a love song.”
Ne-Yo performed at the Blue Note Jazz Festival Japan 2025 over the weekend. He’ll head back to Las Vegas for an appearance on Oct. 11. The R&B singer is slated to perform in Asia this December for a show in Sri Lanka before kicking off 2026 at Singapore’s Singland Festival.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 21:08:302025-09-29 21:08:30Ne-Yo Reacts to Shoving Fan Who Rushed Stage During Japan Performance: ‘Don’t Try Me’
Kelly Clarkson is showing her strength amid a deeply challenging time for her family, returning to host The Kelly Clarkson Show for its first episode since the death of Brandon Blackstock.
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More than a month after the singer’s ex-husband died at the age of 48 after a battle with cancer, Clarkson opened her first show back on Monday (Sept. 29) with a Kellyoke cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights. “It’s a perfect song to kick us off,” she explained to the audience, according to Rolling Stone. “Light has been a constant theme for us on this show since the beginning. We’ve seen a lot in the past six years, and sometimes the world can be very heavy.”
“But I’ve always said, my favorite part of doing this job, and I stand by it, is finding the light and shining it on people are really trying to make a difference and just trying to make the world better place,” she added.
Elsewhere in the show, Clarkson interviewed Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, as well as sat down with bus drivers who rescued hundreds of kids during the deadly Texas floods in July. The episode marked the beginning of The Kelly Clarkson Show‘s seventh season.
Blackstock’s death was announced on Aug. 7 via a statement from his company, Starstruck Entertainment, which was co-founded by his father, Narvel Blackstock. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” it read. “He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”
Clarkson hasn’t spoken much about the death of her ex, to whom she was married for seven years and with whom she shares two children. The day prior to Brandon’s passing, however, she postponed her Las Vegas residency dates and told fans, “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”
The Kelly Clarkson Show first launched in 2019. Six seasons later, the show has won eight Daytime Emmys, and it is nominated for two more in 2025.
Leading up to the premiere of season 7, Clarkson rolled out her Songs & Stories series featuring the Jonas Brothers, Gloria Estefan, Lizzo, Teddy Swims and Alanis Morissette.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 20:58:142025-09-29 20:58:14Kelly Clarkson Hosts First Talk Show Episode Since Brandon Blackstock’s Death: ‘Finding the Light’
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Get ready to seal the Honmoon once more with a live performance from the HUNTR/X girls.
The vocal performers behind the beloved, fictional KPop Demon Hunters girl group are coming to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This will mark EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami’s first-ever live performance together as HUNTR/X. The girl group will join Fallon on the couch for an interview segment, before performing their smash hit song “Golden.”
The new episode will air on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. If you don’t have cable, the show will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. You can also watch the episode after it airs via Amazon Prime Video. To watch the show on either platform, you’ll need a membership. A Prime Video subscription comes built into your subscription to Amazon Prime which runs members $14.99 per month or $139 per year. As for Peacock, you have the option to choose between a standard $7.99 a month plan with the ads or a $10.99 a month ad-free Premium Plus plan.
With either subscription you’ll have wider access to lots of streaming opportunities, not just to The Tonight Show. With a Prime subscription, you’ll get access to Prime Video originals, along with access to an impressive selection of movies and TV shows. With a Peacock membership under your proverbial streaming belt, you’ll have access to NBC and Universal films, Bravo and NBC shows, live sports like Sunday Night Football and Premier League matches WWE content and Peacock Originals.
The soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Sept. 20, while the breakout single, “Golden,” made history as the first female K-pop single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it has remained for seven weeks. The track went on to become one of the 10 longest-leading No. 1s from a movie over the chart’s 67-year history.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 20:54:012025-09-29 20:54:01How to Watch the ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Singers Perform on ‘The Tonight Show’
Nestled into the corner of the Starbucks Reserve in Chelsea, Manhattan, Alex Warren sat down with Billboard over the weekend to chat about touring, collaborations, his hit song “Ordinary,” and his songwriting process. He went characteristically off-script, showing his goofy and fun personality as he told us his origin story and reflected on his journey.
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Growing up in San Diego, Warren’s father died from cancer when he was just 9 years old, and his mother later died due to issues related to alcoholism. These experiences fueled his drive to succeed and gave his social media content and songs a raw authenticity that has resonated with fans. He’s spoken about using humor and creativity as coping mechanisms, and his journey is often seen as one of resilience — turning personal tragedy into a source of motivation and connection with others facing similar struggles.
“I think everything that I’ve been through has been for a reason,” Warren tells Billboard. “If I didn’t lose my parents at a young age, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
His music has struck a powerful chord with fans around the world, touching on themes of grief and healing. “Having my fans relate to my experiences, especially after going through so much at a young age, means everything,” he says. “If I can help even one person process their grief or trauma, then I know I did something right.”
Warren’s momentum this year has been incredible, especially after a standout performance at the MTV VMAs earlier this month and his first time performing at an arena the night prior. When asked how he manages stage fright, his response was simple and raw, yet with his still sarcastic tone: “You don’t. You just keep singing… and get through it,” he says with a laugh.
Despite having performed at major music venues across the world, there’s still something special about more intimate shows. “I love playing smaller shows,” he shared in anticipation of his exclusive set at the Starbucks Reserve on Saturday night.
Playing smaller, more intimate shows allows for him to hear and see his audience, which has always been a priority for Warren. “Being able to see their faces and hear them singing my lyrics back, it’s my favorite part of touring.”
His excitement for the unique One Night Only fan experience with Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks was clear: “[The fans] won tickets by using one of their Marriott Bonvoy points with the 1-Point Drop, which is a really cool idea,” he says. “I’ll also be making my own Starbucks drink in front of everyone, which makes me more nervous than singing,” he laughs. “I practiced with the glasses, but I’m still going to be nervous.”
Following his Starbucks drink demo while doing a Q&A with fans, Warren performed a 45-minute set, during which he sang his hit song “Ordinary” along with fan favorites “Burning Down,” “Eternity” and “Save You a Seat.” His seamless banter throughout the night provided laughs and comfort for fans. Giving his wife, Kouvr, her flowers, he let fans know excitedly that he was playing the guitar that she had handpainted for him with sunflowers on it. Fans reacted to the mention of his wife, shouting, “We love Kouvr!” He laughed and said “I do too, that’s why I married her!”
With a finished tour under his belt and an upcoming Europe tour that was recently announced, he’s not new to large arenas. Warren has played shows with mega pop stars, including at the VMAs, Coachella and Stagecoach. However, he’s not the traditional pop star with an upbeat song; Alex’s songs are emotionally gut-wrenching and incredibly personal to himself and to his journey.
His songs are mainly love songs and about personal loss. Warren never thought he would be a Billboard Hot 100-topping artist either. His single “Ordinary” has been a massive success, holding the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks and a record-breaking 15 weeks atop Pop Airplay. “It feels surreal,” he admits. “When people tell me the numbers, it doesn’t really click or seem real, especially while I’m touring. But when I slow down and think about it, I realize how much it resonated with people and that means everything.” He’s shocked his song was named Billboard‘s Song of the Summer too — mainly due to it being “not an upbeat or a fun summer song; it’s about me being in love with my wife.”
Warren said the songwriting process for “Ordinary” was lighthearted and spontaneous. “We were all hyped up on coffee and joking around,” Warren recalls. “There’s a lyric that says ‘the holy water’s watered down’ — and we were actually talking about coffee.” He also said the line about “a sunny cloudy day” came from writing the song during a snowy February in Nashville, which “never happens.” He laughed as he recounted the writing process: “We were trying to name things that were out of the ordinary.”
Warren’s debut album, You’ll Be Alright, Kid, dropped in July and is packed with 21 tracks, each one intentional. “My favorite song I’ve ever written is ‘Everything.’ It’s also one of my favorites to perform,” Warren says. Surprisingly, he said he wrote exactly 21 songs for the project: “All 21 songs made the final cut. We started a 22nd track, but decided not to finish it. We already knew the album was complete.”
Included in the 21 songs are many notable collaborations with other artists with whom he has struck up friendships. “On My Mind” with BLACKPINK member ROSÉ is one of the most recent releases. “I knew of her and of BLACKPINK. I wasn’t aware of her entire discography at that point, but she’s amazing. She’s one of my close friends that I text weekly. I saw the Puma shoe collection this week, and I snapped a photo with the shoes and sent it to her. We’re constantly communicating. She’s such an adorable person.”
Alex Warren, Rosé at the MTV Video Music Awards 2025 held at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025 in New York, New York.
Christopher Polk/Billboard
Warren popped up at Stagecoach with Jelly Roll and at Coachella with Ed Sheeran earlier this year – surprising fans in the audience. His friendships in the industry continue to grow – sharing that he and Sheeran email “a lot. I feel like the kid pestering him over email, and he’s always like, ‘Cheers, mate!’”
Warren’s notable hits and collaborations don’t stop there: He was named Billboard’s January 2025 Chartbreaker with his track “Burning Down,” with Joe Jonas joining for a reimagined version. The single marked Warren’s first time breaking onto the Hot 100 and has now amassed more than 185 million streams and reached No. 1 in eight countries.
He followed up his record-breaking success with live shows, as he recently wrapped his sold-out Cheaper Than Therapy global tour, hitting 47 cities across Europe and North America. As he gears up for the upcoming European leg of his recently announced Little Orphan Alex Live tour, he’s ready to recharge. “Playing shows where I can see the audience’s faces means the most to me,” he explains. “Being back on the road with my friends — and having Kouvr there — really grounds me. I’m planning on taking a month off before the next tour, and I’m excited to return to Nashville.”
When asked what he wants to do during his month off, Warren smiled and said he just wants to be with friends and family — and that living in “the middle of nowhere” is a blessing for him. He and his wife made the move to Nashville early last year along with a group of close friends, all craving a change — and it’s clearly paid off. Without Nashville, he wouldn’t have met Jelly Roll, who happens to live nearby. That connection led to the creation of “Bloodline.”
When asked who he’d love to add to his Nashville cul-de-sac, he didn’t hesitate: “Probably someone who would always want to be doing something crazy. We have ATVs, and I think Benson Boone would be so fun. We’d cause a lot of havoc.” He places Jelly Roll at the beginning of the cul-de-sac, citing that he thinks Jelly would want to be a bit farther away from the daily chaos that would ensue if Boone was their neighbor.
When his month off comes to an end, he’ll focus on touring. Warren said touring has been one of the best parts of the job — and he can’t wait to see his fans on his upcoming run. As for future goals, Warren is still processing how far he’s already come. He never imagined making it to this point, and credits everything to his past, as he wouldn’t be here without going through what he’s been through.
One dream he’s still holding onto: A Kelly Clarkson cover of one of his songs. With a new season of The Kelly Clarkson Show kicking off this week and a new round of Kellyoke covers, we would be shocked if “Ordinary” doesn’t make the cut.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 20:40:572025-09-29 20:40:57A Not-So-Ordinary Night With Alex Warren for Conversation, A Private Concert & Coffee
Songwriters of North America (SONA) have firmed up the final lineup for its fifth annual Warrior Awards and second annual SONA Warrior Awards Week, taking place Oct. 7-12 in Los Angeles.
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“Warrior Awards Week is a powerful moment to bring together every corner of the music industry to celebrate songwriters, honor their impact, and ensure their work is valued and protected,” SONA executive director Erin McAnally tells Billboard. “These events put the spotlight on songwriters who are often behind the curtain and recognize the essential role they play in creating the music that inspires and unites the world.”
The week starts Oct. 7 with a private house concert featuring Sarah McLachlan and Katie Gavin. The invite-only event will raise money for the SONA Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 that provides songwriters and composers with support through mental health, financial wellness and career development support as well as emergency funding.
On Oct. 10, the SONA Foundation continues its Music & Money Financial Wellness series with “From Songwriter to C-Suite,” an educational seminar at BMI’s Beverly Hills headquarters featuring SONA co-founder/Emmy and Peabody Award-winning songwriter Kay Hanley moderating a panel featuring Academy Award-nominated producer and Primary Wave founder/CEO Larry Mestel, Grammy-nominated songwriter/Pulse Music Group co-founder Anne Preven, Grammy-nominated songwriter and IWP CEO Bruce Waynne [CQ] and SONA Foundation co-founder John Bitrick. Tickets to the seminar, which includes lunch, are $10 for SONA members and $25 for non-members.
SONA Warrior Awards Week
Courtesy Photo
SONA will host two events on Oct. 11 starting with a Songwriter Summit at noon at The Village Studios. The day, in addition to panels with songwriters including Autumn Rowe, KOLE, Emily Warren, METTE and J. Hart, as well as industry leaders, will include a keynote with U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost (D-Orlando) moderated by Billboard senior writer Kristin Robinson. SONA members attend free, while tickets are $25 for non-members.
“Congressman Frost has quickly proven himself a true champion for creators,” says McAnally. “His passion for music and deep understanding of the industry make him a powerful ally for songwriters. We’re thrilled to highlight his work and discuss why it’s so important for songwriters to advocate for themselves.”
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Later that evening, a night celebrating Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Desmond Child will take place at the Hotel Café. Hosted by musician Curtis Peoples, the night, which is a fundraiser for the SONA Foundation, will feature Child, as well as a number of artists performing a number of his biggest hits, which include “Bad Medicine,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and “Love Will Remember.” Tickets are $40 with VIP at $200 for reserved seating and a signed copy of Child’s autobiography.
The week culminates in the Oct. 12 Warrior Awards, honoring Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Chappell Roan, Dina LaPolt, Larry Mestel and Girls Make Beats. Following a live-streamed black carpet presented by TikTok and hosted by content creator Daniel Wall, songwriters Bonnie McKee and Shane Stevens will host the awards show and perform, with Morgan Wade and Child also performing. The awards will also include the inaugural Emerging Songwriter Warrior Awards presented by YouTube Songwriters; voting is open through Oct. 10.
SONA, which advocates for songwriters’ and composers’ rights, as well as provides education and opportunities for its roughly 1,000 paid members, was founded 10 years ago. It represents songwriters’ interests before legislative bodies, administrative agencies and courts and provides a unified voice to protect songwriters’ rights and compensation. The organization is based in Los Angeles but expanded to add a New York chapter last year.
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.pngYveto2025-09-29 20:40:572025-09-29 20:40:57Songwriters of North America Reveals Warriors Week Slate with Sarah McLachlan, Maxwell Frost and Award Show Honoring Chappell Roan
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming Taylor Swift stole lyrics for 15 of her songs from a self-published Florida poet, ruling the accuser was trying to claim ownership over basic ideas and “common words.”
Kimberly Marasco sued Swift’s company last year over allegations that more than a dozen of the star’s songs — spanning the albums Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department — ripped off copyrighted material from two books of poetry.
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But in a ruling Monday, Judge Aileen Cannon thoroughly rejected those claims. She ruled that Swift likely never saw the poems, that her lyrics were not similar to them, and, most crucially, that Marasco didn’t even own any rights to the “common” phrases she claimed Swift had copied.
“Plaintiff’s poems amount at most to ideas, metaphors, contexts, and themes — none of which is a proper subject of copyright protection,” the judge wrote.
The lawsuit cited the fact that Swift’s lyrics included some of the same words as Marasco’s poems, including “tears,” “yelling,” “running,” “fear,” “time,” “rain,” “sky,” “waves,” “cruel,” “mean,” “desire,” “love,” and “invisible.” But in her ruling, Judge Cannon said that’s not at all how copyright law works.
“Plaintiff’s attempt to protect various words is equally unavailing,” the judge wrote. “These common words alone are not copyrightable.”
The ruling is not quite the end for Marasco’s litigation. Though it dismissed claims against the star’s Taylor Swift Productions, Marasco also filed a separate case against Swift herself earlier this year. But that case now faces long odds: It is essentially over the same accusations, and it’s currently pending before the same judge.
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Marasco filed her lawsuit last year, claiming the superstar had stolen material for lyrics in songs from Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department. In court filings, Swift’s lawyers have called the case “utterly baseless” and based on “short phrases plucked from random spots.”
In one alleged infringement, she claimed Swift’s “My Tears Ricochet” was copied from her poem “Beams of Light.” In Swift’s song, the lyric reads: “And I still talk to you/when I’m screaming at the sky”; in Marasco’s poem, the words are: “The dark evil entity Devoured in the Fire/Doves dancing and singing high in the sky, and I can hear the beautiful choir.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Judge Cannon ruled Monday that she didn’t see much resemblance. She said Marasco had “fallen woefully short” of proving that Swift’s words were “substantially similar” to her own — the test courts use to decide copyright cases: “None of Plaintiff’s thirteen claims plausibly alleges an objective substantial similarity between Defendant’s songs and Plaintiff’s poems.”
Even if the songs had been closely similar, the judge ruled that Marasco still would have had no right to sue over such “noncopyrightable material” — common themes and ideas that nobody gets to own. She pointed to the lawsuit’s claim that Swift had misappropriated Marasco’s poem about “a woman being gaslighted and attacked.”
“To the extent that some similarities in the words and general themes exist between Defendant’s songs and Plaintiff’s poems, those commonalities are not … protectable expressions,” Judge Cannon wrote.
Both Marasco and a representative for Swift did not immediately return requests for comment on Monday (Sept. 29).
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