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.

Amazon is currently running a major sale on artist merch that you won’t want to miss.

We’re talking up to 39% off on officially licensed merch from top artists like the Grateful Dead, Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Teddy Swims, System Of A Down and so much more. This is pretty much the perfect excuse to shop your faves’ merch without spending a fortune. These pieces via Amazon Music are made of quality materials and feature fashion-forward graphics.

Plus there are numerous sizing options across the board, giving everyone equal opportunity to show their love for artists of all kinds. Shopping for gifts for that music-obsessed person in your life? Or maybe you’re gearing up for a concert and need to look the part? Whatever situation you may find yourself in, these merch deals are a great excuse to shop and show your favorite artists some love.

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

Liquid Blue Men’s Grateful Dead-Montego Bay T-Shirt

$14.83 $24.50 39% off

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A tie-dye Grateful Dead t-shirt.


Tie-dye is an underrated favorite that adds a touch of whimsy to everything and anything. The pattern can be seen on this Liquid Blue Men’s Grateful Dead-Montego Bay T-Shirt in shades of yellow, red, black, green and blue, bleeding into one another to create a unique amalgamation that pops, especially when paired with the coordinating ombre Grateful Dead logo. If you’re looking for something fun to add to your t-shirt lineup, this piece is for you. Plus it’s currently 39% off. What could be better than that?

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

The Weeknd Hurry Up Tomorrow Official Trapped In Limbo T-Shirt

$29.75 $35 15% off

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A The Weeknd t-shirt in black.


The Weeknd Hurry Up Tomorrow Official Trapped In Limbo T-Shirt was launched in support of his sixth studio album dropped in 2025 titled Hurry Up Tomorrow. The tee features a haunting graphic of the singer silhouetted and bathed in blinding lights. The album’s title can be seen above the graphic in bold red lettering. The tee, like most entries on this list, is made of washable 100% cotton. The composition makes the tee nice and breezy, perfect for layering.

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

Dua Lipa Official Merch Radical Optimism Logo Hoodie

$8.10 $9.53 15% off

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A black Dua Lipa hoodie from her Radical Optimism Tour.


Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism Tour merch has been receiving lots of press as of late, specifically for counterfeits. Well, you won’t find that here. This hoodie for the singer’s 2025 tour is 100% real, and it’s affordable to boot. If you’re really looking to save a buck, and you don’t mind an oversized fit, the XL sizing for this piece is just $8.10, while the other sizing options range from $21.63 to $47.08. This hoodie is made of a mix of 70% cotton and 30% polyester, a hybrid that keeps the wearer comfy and warm. Lipa’s North American tour is still underway, so if you are attending, you might want to get this hoodie to show your support before heading to the concert.

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

System Of A Down Unisex-Adult Toxicity T-Shirt

$21.25 $25 15% off

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A black t-shirt with System Of A Down’s album art on the front.


This System Of A Down Unisex-Adult Toxicity T-Shirt is currently 15% off, and it features graphics from the band’s most popular album, Toxicity. The tee is affixed with a landscape scene of the band’s name arranged in a way that mimics the look of the Hollywood sign. Simple but visually appealing, this tee would look best styled with baggy denim and your favorite sneakers.

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

Elvis Presley Unisex-Adult Official Merch Red/Tan Logo Sweatpants

$30.38 $39.99 24% off

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Taupe sweatpants with pink Elvis logo detailing.


Any Elvis Presley fans out there? We see you and we hear you. If you’re looking for merch for the beloved singer, look no further than these Unisex-Adult Official Merch Red/Tan Logo Sweatpants. The style is 24% off and super cozy. The style is a taupe hue with contrasting bright pink logo detailing throughout reading “Elvis Presley.” The waist of these bottoms are elasticized, creating a roomy, forgiving feel perfect for cozying up on the couch.

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

Teddy Swims Unisex-Adult Lose Control Lyric T-Shirt

$21.44 $25 14% off

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A green Teddy Swims tee inspired by his lyrics.


Teddy Swims burst onto the music scene in late 2023 and hasn’t looked back since. The singer’s 2023 track “Lose Control” garnered the star major love that hasn’t dimmed as the years have passed, which is exactly why this Teddy Swims Unisex-Adult Lose Control Lyric T-Shirt is still very popular. if you want to get in on the Swims mania, this tee is currently 14% off. Plus the blue, yellow and orange coloring set on a dark green background is super fashionable, further elevating the otherwise basic t-shirt.

The Best Artist Merch To Shop Up to 39% Off On Amazon Right Now

Karol G Official Tropicoqueta Merch Congas Hoodie

$55.25 $65 15% off

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A white Karol G hoodie.


An oversized hoodie is always a must-have in our book. This one is an official Karol G piece in support of the Latin singer’s 2025 album Tropicoqueta and features a cream color with contrasting bright orange lettering and graphics on the front and back. The hoodie silhouette is rather boxy, an oversized offering that is certainly comfortable but also extremely stylish thanks to the colorful graphics.

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.

In a rematch of the Alamo Bowl earlier this year, Colorado is looking for revenge after BYU defeated them 36-14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Want to watch the rematch online? One of the best ways to livestream the game is with Sling TV.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, the No. 25-ranked BYU Cougars (3-0) take on unranked Colorado Buffaloes (2-2) at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

When Does BYU vs. Colorado Game Start?

BYU vs. Colorado game broadcasts live, with kickoff at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT.

Where to Watch BYU vs. Colorado Online

BYU vs. Colorado game broadcasts on ESPN, and it’s also livestreams on Sling Orange. Keep reading for more details on how cord-cutters can watch the BYU-Colorado game online with Sling TV.

How to Watch BYU vs. Colorado with Sling TV

A subscription to Sling Orange, which comes with ESPN, gets you access to live TV from top-rated cable channels.

You can watch cable networks, including ESPN2, ESPN3, Disney Channel, Freeform, MotorTrend, A&E, AMC, BBC America, BET, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, Fuse, HGTV, History Channel, IFC, Lifetime, Nick Jr., QVC, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Vice and many others.

Meanwhile, starting at $4.99 for the Sling Day Pass, you can access Sling Orange for 24 hours. Additionally, the Sling Weekend Pass goes for $9.99 to access Sling Orange from Friday-to-Sunday. Sling Week Pass, which goes for $14.99, gets you access for seven days of Sling Orange.

Please note: Prices and channel availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here.

Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During BYU vs. Florida State Game?

There may be a number of celebrities and famous recording artists in attendance during the BYU vs. Florida State game, such as Cougars fans Steve Young, Stephenie Meyer and Aaron Eckhart. Meanwhile, Buffaloes fans include Lil Wayne, Offset, Key Glock, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ice Cube, Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Owens. Tune-in to the college football game to find out who’s there.

Starting at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT, BYU vs. Colorado broadcast on ESPN, while it’s also available to livestream on Sling TV on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

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.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle hit American theaters on Sept. 12 and it’s already breaking records.

The animated film grossed over $555 million worldwide according to an article dropped by Forbes, making it the highest-grossing anime film of all time globally. This also makes the film the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. In the United States alone, the film grossed a whopping total of $104 million, making it the highest-grossing anime film in the U.S. of all time.

All this in just two weeks? It’s not as uncommon as you think. In 2020, Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train dropped and became the first, now second, highest-grossing anime film of all time, amassing a total of $506,473,668 worldwide. It’s clear the anime is a major hit. If you didn’t know, the story is centered around teenager Tanjiro Kamado as he navigates a world overrun by demons after his entire family is slaughtered by them, except for his younger sister Nezuko. The problem? Nezuko was transformed into a demon. Tanjiro must now find a way to turn his sister back into a human while training to become a Demon Slayer.

With hype for the film still in full swing, we’re sharing a few of our favorite merch pieces that you can shop right now from Crocs to Uniqlo. We’ve rounded up a few collaborative pieces, as well as good old-fashion collectible figures, everything you need to show off your love for the series.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

Demon Slayer Tanjiro Echo Clog

Tanjiro-inspired clogs.


Crocs just launched a Demon Slayer-inspired collection of clogs. The collection includes five styles total, all pulling design inspo from characters from the series including Tanjiro, Nezuko, Shinobu, Inosuke and Zenitsu. The full collection is pretty awesome; however, we chose the Tanjiro clogs for $94.99 to highlight the hero of Demon Slayer. We might be biased. Anyhow, these Echo clogs are waterproof, lightweight and stylish to boot, equipped with a green and black checkerboard print inspired by Tanjiro’s kimono. The collab also includes Jibbitz inspired by the anime that can be bought separately.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba UT Graphic T-Shirt

A unisex t-shirt with Tanjiro and Nezuko graphics on the front.


Uniqlo is just one of many brands to collaborate with the popular anime, bringing the characters to life on tees and sweats. While their latest collection features a slew of pieces, we recommend the UT Graphic T-Shirt for $24.90. The style is unisex and comes in sizes XXS to XXL. The tee is white and made of breathable 100% cotton and features a colorful graphic of Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko on the front. The collaborative piece is slightly oversized, so keep that in mind before picking a size.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Shinobu & Kanao Best Friend Necklace Set

A set of two butterfly necklaces.


Got a bestie who is just as obsessed with Demon Slayer as you are? You can both show your love for the anime and manga with this Shinobu & Kanao Best Friend Necklace Set from Hot Topic. Retailing for $13.90, the set comes with matching butterfly necklaces with designs mirrored after the characters Shinobu and Kanao, two adoptive sisters from the series. The butterfly pendants are attached to chains—one in gold and one in silver. This would make a great gift for you and your anime-obsessed bestie.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

Bandai – Demon Slayer – Ultimate Legends – Nezuko Kamado Action Figure

A collectible figure of Nezuko.


If you’re less into wearable merch, Walmart has a ton of action figures and display pieces from Demon Slayer sure to liven up any space. Take this Nezuko Kamado Action Figure, for example. Retailing for $27.98, the figure depicts Nezuko in her full-on demon form and has movable limbs, so you can pose her in any way you please. The piece is extremely detailed, down to the bamboo in her mouth.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

Demon Slayer-Kimetsu no Yaiba: The Hinokami Chronicles

A Demon Slayer video game.


If you’re more of a gamer, Walmart also has Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles available for $69.99. The game is available for the PlayStation 4 and 5 along with the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series. The game is currently rated T for Teen.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

POP MART Demon Slayer Birth Flower Series Figures

A Demon Slayer blind box by Pop Mart.


Like blind boxes? You’re not alone. Now you can combine your love for anime and the phenom by shopping Pop Mart’s Demon Slayer Birth Flower Series Figures on Amazon for just $20.99. You have the option to pull 12 different mini figures, all from the Demon Slayer universe. You’ll also have the option to pull a secret figure which will be Kyōjurō Rengoku, or the Flame Hashira. Each figure is extremely detailed and super colorful, making it a great addition to any shelf.

The Very Best Demon Slayer Merch To Shop From Crocs To Pop Mart

Funko POP Animation: DS – Tanjiro Kamado – (Sun Breathing) – Demon Slayer – Collectable Vinyl Figure

A Funko Demon Slayer Tanjiro figure.


Similarly, Funko Pop has figures you can purchase of most, if not all, of the Demon Slayer characters. These durable vinyl figures are available on Amazon. We picked the Tanjiro Kamado Sun Breathing figure for $15.99 standing at 3.75 inches. The figure is a great collector’s item and makes a great gift for the Demon Slayer-obsessed loved one in your life.

Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to court on Thursday (Sept. 25) to advocate for his record to be cleared completely after he was acquitted of sex-trafficking but convicted of lesser prostitution charges.

Combs seemed in good spirits when he appeared in the courtroom, smiling and embracing his team of defense lawyers. It’s not surprising that the rapper has such affection for his legal team; they won a stunning trial victory in July, convincing jurors to acquit Combs of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges that could have subjected him to life in prison.

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The jury did convict Combs of transporting Cassie Ventura and another ex-girlfriend referred to as “Jane” across state lines for “freak-off” sex parties with male escorts. Sentencing on these lesser counts is scheduled for Oct. 3, but Combs’ lawyers first got the chance to argue that the conviction should be wiped altogether.

One of Combs’ attorneys, appeal specialist Alexandra Shapiro, told Judge Arun Subramanian on Thursday that federal prostitution charges are antiquated and rarely enforced. The Mann Act, originally titled the White-Slave Traffic Act, has ugly origins in criminalizing interracial relationships in the early 1900s.

“The whole history of the statute is really, I would submit respectfully, an embarrassment to the United States of America,” Shapiro argued.

Shapiro said it’s Department of Justice policy to only level such charges when prostitution is done in a commercial context or tied to sex trafficking. And since the jury determined in their verdict that Combs’ girlfriends consented to the freak-offs, Shapiro argued, the Mann Act should be off the table.

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Prosecutor Christy Slavik, meanwhile, countered that there is a legitimate government interest in regulating prostitution. Slavick said that even when prostitution is not strictly defined as sex trafficking, it can lead to other crimes like violence against women and drug use.

“All of those things were present here in this case,” said Slavik. “Ms. Ventura was getting punched in the face. Jane was getting hit and kicked. Mr. Combs was providing drugs to all parties.”

The lawyers also sparred over the defense’s creative argument that because Combs videotaped the freak-offs, these events constituted amateur pornography shoots protected by the First Amendment.

Shapiro noted that these events were “highly choreographed,” with “mood lighting” and “costumes.” But Slavik said Combs’ videography is entirely irrelevant to the question of whether people were transported across state lines for prostitution.  

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Judge Subramanian peppered both sides with technical legal questions throughout the hearing and ultimately said he’ll issue a decision “very shortly.” He ended the proceeding by declaring that unless the conviction is wiped, he’ll “see everyone back here next Friday” for sentencing.

Federal sentencing guidelines suggest Combs will likely receive somewhere between two and five years of prison time next week, though judges have wide discretion to impose whatever punishment they see fit.

Combs’ legal team has asked that he be sentenced to essentially time served, since he’s already spent more than a year in jail. Prosecutors have not yet submitted their sentencing recommendation.

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.

Calling all Carats. If you didn’t know, SEVENTEEN is coming to a stadium or concert venue near you for the U.S. leg of their [NEW_] 2025 Tour.

The K-pop act announced tour dates for the U.S. portion back in July to widespread fanfare. The boy group will be hitting up multiple venues on the east and west coasts, including places in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Austin and more, starting Oct. 11 and ending Oct. 30.

The U.S. leg includes nine stops total. Members S.Coups, Joshua, Jun, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino are set to perform some of the band’s most popular hits, including “HOT,” “HIT,” “VERY NICE,” “Rock with you,” and “Darl+ing” along with solo performances by specific members. Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Hoshi and Woozi have already started, or are set to begin their mandatory military service, meaning that they will unfortunately sit out on this concert.

The tour’s title [NEW_], “signals a bold new chapter for SEVENTEEN. The underscore (_) following the word ‘new’ symbolizes limitless potential — an open space to be reinvented,” according to the group. SEVENTEEN’s last North American tour was their Right Here World Tour, which began in 2024 and ended in Feb. of this year. While general ticket sales began Aug. 6, you can still snag yourself last-minute tickets for a venue near you, and we’re showing you how to do it. Keep reading to score tickets to the K-pop group’s latest U.S. tour.

Where to Buy Tickets to SEVENTEEN’s [NEW_] 2025 U.S. Tour

StubHub features some of the best seating for SEVENTEEN’s tour we’ve seen. Thus far, we’ve seen seats go for as little as $99. Plus you’ll know that tickets you’re getting are secure thanks to the ticketing service’s FanProtect Guarantee. The initiative ensures valid tickets or your money back. In the unfortunate event that your concert or show is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event, or the option of a cash refund.

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MORE PROMO CODES


You can grab seating options for the K-pop boy group’s tour through Vivid Seats now for a discounted price on us. You’re welcome. You can use promo code BB30 to get $30 off your purchase. When purchasing tickets through Vivid Seats, you’ll be able to view which tickets are going for the lowest prices, and which ones are going the fastest at specific venues without even clicking on them, thanks to nifty icons shown throughout the site’s interface. The ticketing service also has a 100% Buyer Guarantee that vows your transaction will be secure, that your tickets will be delivered before your event and that those tickets will be valid and authentic. 

You can grab SEVENTEEN’s tour tickets without breaking the bank on us with SeatGeek. Thank us later. Right now, you can use promo code BILLBOARD10 at checkout to receive $10 off at checkout. The ticketing service includes a Buyer Guarantee that ensures smooth ticket purchases every time.

We’re giving you more opportunities to save on concert tickets, on us. What could be better than that? You can snag SEVENTEEN’s 2025 tour tickets through TicketNetwork for a fraction of the OG pricetag right now with the code BILLBOARD300 to save $300 off orders of $1,000, and BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off orders of $500. Waiting till payday? There’s no need. You can also buy the tickets on the website now and pay later with help from Affirm. To further help you make an informed decision before buying, the website includes all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll be paying upfront (fees included).

Here's How To Get Last-Minute Tickets To SEVENTEEN's [NEW_] U.S. Tour

BEST PRICING


Gametime has a wide variety of seating options for insanely good prices, the best we’ve seen on our search. Some venues have tickets starting at $132, which is basically unheard of for the group this late in the game. Gametime guarantees the lowest prices, event cancellation protection, job loss assurance and on-time ticket delivery, ensuring a smooth ticket buying experience every time, K-pop stan or otherwise.

More About SEVENTEEN

Despite their name, SEVENTEEN is a 13-member boy group that was formed by Pledis Entertainment back in 2015. The group is divided into three sub-units, each with an area of specialization: a Hip-Hop Team, Vocal Team and Performance Team. Members include S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino. The group debuted with the track “Adore U.”

As of July of this year, the group achieved their seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart with their fifth album HAPPY BURSTDAY. SEVENTEEN also scored its first No. 1 on Top Album Sales back in 2021. It’s safe to say the group has done pretty well for themselves since their debut, scoring major wins alongside the likes of other third-generation K-pop boy groups like EXO, BTS, NCT and GOT7.

Check out the dates for SEVENTEEN’S [NEW_] 2025 U.S. tour below.

Oct. 11: Tacoma, Wash. @ Tacoma Dome
Oct. 16: Los Angeles, Calif. @ BMO Stadium
Oct. 17: Los Angeles, Calif. @ BMO Stadium
Oct. 21: Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
Oct. 22: Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
Oct. 26: Sunrise, Fla. @ Amerant Bank Arena
Oct. 27: Sunrise, Fla. @ Amerant Bank Arena
Oct. 29: Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena
Oct. 30: Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena

Richard Sterban, a member of quartet The Oak Ridge Boys for more than five decades, revealed on (Thursday) Sept. 25 that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March of this year.

“I am under the care of the best cancer doctors in the country and, with the help of the Good Lord above, I believe I will be able to get through this,” Sterban said in a statement. He added, “I want to thank everyone, especially the fans, for your concern, and I would appreciate your continued prayers. Most days I’m feeling very good, and I hope to be back out on the road in several months.”

Sterban, whose signature bass vocals are a defining feature of such Oak Ridge Boys songs as their Billboard Hot 100 top 5 hit “Elvira,” most recently performed with the group at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May. Since then, Aaron McCune and Tim Duncan have been filling in for Sterban on tour.

New Jersey native Sterban joined The Oak Ridge Boys in 1972. Prior to joining the group, he sang with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, through which he also performed and recorded with Elvis Presley, and appeared in one of Presley’s movies, Elvis on Tour.

The Oak Ridge Boys have earned five Grammy Awards, nine GMA Dove Awards and two American Music Awards. The group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000, into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015 and have been members of the Grand Ole Opry since 2011. Among the group’s 17 No. 1s on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart are “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “American Made” and “Leaving Louisiana In Broad Daylight.”

The lineup of Sterban, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Duane Allen performed together for five decades, marking the group’s longest-running lineup. Bonsall announced his retirement in January 2024 and was replaced by vocalist Ben James. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, at age 76.

Metro Boomin has won a verdict clearing him of wrongdoing in a civil lawsuit from a woman who claimed that he sexually assaulted and impregnated her in 2016.

After a three-day trial and a just a brief deliberation, Rolling Stone reports that jurors on Thursday rejected allegations from Vanessa LeMaistre, who alleged that the star producer (Leland T. Wayne) raped her after she ingested Xanax and alcohol at his studio during a recording session.

Earlier in the week, Wayne had testified in the courtroom that there was “no way in the world” he had assaulted LeMaistre. He claimed their encounter had been consensual – and that she had concocted her “shakedown” accusations while hallucinating on ayahuasca.

“This whole lawsuit was born out of a drug den in Peru. In the jungle,” Wayne’s defense lawyer, Justin H. Sanders, said in his closing argument. “This case is preposterous.”

In a statement, LeMaistre’s lawyer Michael J. Willemin said:  “Though the legal system is often stacked against survivors, our client showed unwavering fortitude throughout this trial. We are disappointed in the outcome but are proud to represent Ms. LeMaistre and believe that the verdict will ultimately be overturned on appeal.”

LeMaistre sued Metro in 2024, claiming she met the producer in Las Vegas in the spring of 2016. LeMaistre says she confided in Metro about the recent death of her 9-month-old son, and that they “bonded over the ability of music to help people in their darkest moments.”

But LeMaistre’s belief about her bond with Metro allegedly “shattered” the following September, when the producer invited her to watch him work in his California recording studio. LeMaistre said she had a shot of alcohol and half a tablet of Xanax, then blacked out, waking up on a bed in a different location “completely unable to move or make a sound” while Metro raped her.

LeMaistre alleged she became pregnant as a result of the assault and had an abortion in November 2016. Notably, the lawsuit claimed the attack had been referenced in Metro’s 2017 song “Rap Saved Me” with Offset, 21 Savage and Quavo.

But as reported by Rolling Stone, Metro’s lawyers centered their defense on claims that she had decided to air those accusations during a 2024 ceremony Peru in which she took the psychoactive drug Ayahuasca. At one point, jurors saw a handwritten note penned during the trip in which LeMaistre wrote that she would “blow the whistle on Metro Boomin”; at another, she said a demand for more than $3 million in damages had been “given to me” during the Ayahuasca ceremony.

Following the verdict, Metro’s attorneys did not immediately return a request for comment. But as reported by legal journalist Meghann Cuniff, the star told reporters outside the courthouse: “I’m blessed and glad the truth prevailed.”

The debut edition of Northern Nights x Dirtybird went down in the woods of NorCal this past July 18-20, and we’ve got sonic proof.

Hear exclusive sets from the festival from Jersey Club titan UNIIQU3, globe-trotting DJ and GM of dance at EMPIRE Moody Jones, soul and R&B-focused house producer Life On Planets and Dirtybird OG J. Phlip. All in, it’s four hours of music from the party weekend. Listen below.

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Other performers for Dirtybird x Northern Nights 2025 included headliners Zeds Dead, Jungle, Aluna, Justin Martin, Levity and Walker & Royce. The fest happened along the shore of the Eel River and featured loads of daytime activities along with the music by night.

It marked the first collaborative event from the longstanding Northern Nights festival and the Dirtybird events brand, which launched in 2015 and was acquired by EMPIRE following the San Francisco-based label’s 2022 acquisition of the Dirtybird label.

“As the label was undergoing a leadership change under EMPIRE, it was important for us to take a step back and plan for the next evolution of the brand and the fan experience,” Jones told Billboard upon the festival’s announcement. “We knew we had to bring it back, and we know how much the fans have missed it, so it was a matter of timing it right.”

“From our very first conversation it was clear that we shared a deep connection within the same music community,” added Northern Nights co-founder Andrew Borgelt. “Throughout the process, both teams remained aligned on a shared vision — ensuring that each brand’s voice was authentically represented while seamlessly merging the essence of both festivals.”

UNIIQU3

Moody Jones

Life On Planets

J. Phlip

Between their idiosyncratic songwriting styles, generational hits, Grammys, and Billboard chart domination, Mariah Carey and SZA made a natural pair at Wednesday night’s Apple Music-hosted Flowers conversation at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Serving as the official pilot of Flowers, a new Apple Music live show created by gamma. co-founder Larry Jackson, Carey and SZA’s conversation was a heartfelt lovefest that doubled as a Lambily reunion. With Here for It All, Carey’s forthcoming 16th studio album, arriving on Friday (Sept. 26), the Flowers conversation featured exclusive snippets of the title track, as well as behind-the-scenes stories of the album’s creation.

Carey appeared very excited, if not a little nervous, about her first album in seven years — but once she started gushing about working with iconic gospel group The Clark Sisters, she could barely contain herself. SZA, an empathetic interviewer in her own right, nimbly guided the conversation, subtly interjecting her own questions and helping Carey navigate particularly emotional moments, such as when she discussed her mother and sister passing away on the same day in August 2024.

From the moment Carey walked out in a leathery, all-black fit and SZA followed behind her — in a butterfly-print dress, no less — Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, which featured notable guests like Gayle King, house DJ D-Nice and host Ebro Darden, waited with bated breath for the conversation to begin. Nonetheless, adorable audience quips abounded, and by the time Carey played a bit of the gospel breakdown in the Here for it All title track, the entire room leapt to its feet. SZA also convinced Carey to play two songs (“Hermit” and “Love Is A Scam”) from her secret grunge album, Someone’s Ugly Daughter, which she recorded under the moniker Chick around the time of 1995’s Daydream album.

Here are 10 things we learned from Mariah Carey and SZA’s Flowers conversation for Apple Music.


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Suno, a leading generative AI music company, has announced the launch of Suno Studio, its new digital audio workstation (DAW) — or, as the company calls it, a “generative audio workstation.” The product combines all of Suno’s tools for music generation into one product, including generating individual stems, editing in a multi-track timeline and starting with any audio (samples, stems, even a hummed melody) and transforming it into something new, and exporting everything as audio and MIDI.

Ultimately, the product shows that Suno is not just interested in being the engine behind songs made at the click of a button — it’s interested in rivaling longtime professional DAWs like Logic, Ableton and FL Studio as well as newer browser-based options like Bandlab. “The goal is: however you know how to express a musical idea, whether it’s through piano, through humming something, through tapping on the table, through uploading a demo, or through a list of adjectives and genres — however you know how to express a musical idea, we want to let you hear it come to life,” says Suno product manager Henry Phipps in an exclusive interview with Billboard about the new tool.

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The beta version of Suno Studio is available on Thursday (Sept. 25) to all users with a Premier Plan.

To introduce and finetune Suno Studio, the company has been quietly working with songwriting camps to get it into the hands of professional musicians, including a recent one at Rick Rubin’s famous Shangri-La studios in Malibu, Calif., hosted by Frank Ocean and Jay-Z producer Om’Mas Keith. “The music creation camp I did with Suno at Shangri-La was a high-profile art meets science experiment,” says Keith.

“We’ve done probably nine or ten [camps] so far,” Paul Sinclair, Suno’s new chief music officer, tells Billboard. “We’ve got five more already lined up. We are going to Asia for the next few weeks, and there’s even more for October and November.” Producers at these camps have also included THURZ of Party in My Living Room, Rance of 1500 or Nothin’, DONUT and more.

“But we’re not running these camps. Someone will come to us and say, ‘I would like to do a writer’s camp and I would like Suno to be part of it,’” says Sinclair.

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Phipps adds, “I go to them as tech support… These are people interested in exploring the future, basically. All of these people have no trouble making incredible records on their own, they’re just interested in trying something brand new…It’s been interesting. At each of these camps, the creative in charge always has a very different way of interacting with Suno.”

“We’re witnessing a paradigm shift taking place in studios right now as AI becomes a part of more artists’ creative process,” said Mikey Shulman, co-founder and CEO of Suno, in a statement. “Studio was built to expand the toolkit for musicians; it intentionally does not prescribe workflows so that human talent can remain front and center. What’s been most inspiring for us is putting the technology in the hands of artists and watching them experiment with what’s possible, all with their creativity, knowledge and talent remaining in the driver’s seat.”

This is the latest in a string of announcements from the leading generative AI music company in recent months. In early June, Suno debuted new editing features, like its “creative slider” and stem extraction tools, to give users more control. Later that month, the company announced its acquisition of WavTool, a browser-based DAW. And in July, the company revealed that it had hired former Atlantic Records general manager Sinclair as its first chief music officer to “unlock new experiences between artists and fans.”

The major music companies — including Sinclair’s former employer, Warner Music Group — are still pursuing lawsuits against Suno and its competitor Udio, alleging that the companies have infringed on their copyrighted sound recordings on “an almost unimaginable scale” by using them to train models without a license. In early June, it was reported that the majors were in licensing talks with Suno and Udio to see if private licensing agreements could be reached.

Most recently, on Friday (Sept. 19), the majors updated their lawsuit against Suno to also include claims that Suno scraped their songs from YouTube, taking a cue from Anthropic’s recent $1.5 billion copyright settlement while citing an exclusive Billboard report on mass piracy in AI training.