La La Anthony starred front-and-center as the love interest in Drake’s “In My Feelings” video, and seven years later, she’s reflecting on the memorable cameo.

Anthony joined 360 With Speedy recently, during which she recalled her friendship with Drake leading to the role in the No. 1 hit’s visual. “I mean, I love Drake,” she said. “I’m a huge Drake fan and he’s a great friend. And I was like, yeah, this is cool. Like, Kiki, do you love me? That was a big, big deal back then.”

She continued: “I have been saying I wanted to do a video, but I wanted it to mean something, or be acting in a video, not just kind of like standing there or whatever.”

Eventually, Drake came back with an idea of La La playing the love interest he’s attempting to win back. “So he’s like, ‘I think I got something for you.’ I was like, ‘What is it?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, this good,’” she added.

La La still hears about her appearance in the video from fans to this day. “We had so much fun shooting that in New Orleans and people still talk about that video,” she told Speedy. “Last I checked, I haven’t checked in a while, but I was like, I don’t remember the number, but it was something crazy. I was like, this video has like, I don’t know, it was like 400 million, something crazy.”

Anthony’s not far off, as the video has nearly 300 million views on YouTube. The Scorpion bounce-fused track topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks.

Watch the “In My Feelings” video and La La Anthony’s interview with Speedy below.

Beatport will host a one day conference, Beatport Connect, in Los Angeles on Sept. 26.

Happening at the W Hotel in Hollywood, the conference will gather professionals from around the dance music industry. The phase one speaker lineup includes electronic duo Sofi Tukker and Detroit house music innovator DJ Minx, Dirtybird GM Moody Jones, A Club Called Rhonda co-founder Gregory Alexander, BUDDY social utility app CEO/founder Claire Wright and Reed Smith law firm partner Josh Love, who has significant experience representing buyers and sellers of recorded music and music publishing assets. (Full disclosure: the author of this story is also included on the phase one lineup.)

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Programming topics will include how AI is transforming production, working in the attention economy, burnout and more. Additional speakers and conversation topics will be announced in the coming months.

The gathering will mark the Los Angeles debut of Beatport Connect, which has previously hosted editions in Mexico City and beyond. The event will include daytime programming and conversations along with a sunset networking gathering and a late-night Beatport Live event at the W’s rooftop space that will be presented in collaboration with Insomniac Records.

Tickets for Beatport Connect L.A. start at $50 and are on sale now. Fifty percent of ticket revenue will go to MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s nonprofit organization. Tickets for Beatport Connect’s evening program will be sold separately.

“Los Angeles has long been a creative and strategic hub for Beatport; it’s where many of our team are based, and where our connection to the electronic music community runs deep,” Beatport Group CEO Robb McDaniels said in a statement. “With Beatport Connect: L.A., we’re not only investing in the future of the scene but also creating space for emerging artists, labels, and professionals to build meaningful connections. Supporting local ecosystems like L.A. is at the heart of our mission to help the global electronic music industry grow in a more inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative way.”

CBS and its owner Paramount may given in to the Trump administration’s demands, but South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone — who just inked a reported $1.5 billion deal with the studio — are not following suit.

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The first episode of the wildly popular animated series 27th season savaged President Donald Trump by putting him in a deteriorating romantic relationship with Satan — who the creators previously paired with Saddam Hussein — and endowing the president with a miniscule manhood. And the show’s continuing to poke at the twice-impeached commander in chief, his policies and supporters.

A promo for the the second episode, which airs on Aug. 6, promised more of the same mockery when the teaser arrived July 29. The teaser once again depicts the president with reluctant lover Satan, but this time also involves ICE as well as a woman who appears to be Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Comedy Central revealed on Tuesday (Aug. 5) that the episode is titled “Got a Nut,” with the description explaining that Mr. Mackay — South Park Elementary’s counselor — has lost his job and is “desperately” trying to “find a new way to make a living.”  (That’s him pulling up his face mask while in what appears to be an ICE truck in the promo.) One of the images released from the episode Tuesday also shows a gun-toting woman resembling Noem in an ICE vest.

The cable and streaming network also reported that the first episode of season 27, “Sermon on the ‘Mount” — which ended with an internet-breaking PSA of Trump trudging across a desert — was the top telecast across all cable, racked up its biggest season premiere share on Comedy Central since 1999, up +68% vs. last season’s first episode, attracted nearly 6 million cross-platform viewers across Paramount+ and Comedy Central and trended on X for over 12 hours, five of them at No. 1.

The Trump White House slammed the South Park season 27 premiere the day after it aired. “The Left’s hypocrisy truly has no end – for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as ‘offense’ [sic] content, but suddenly they are praising the show,” spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to Variety, claiming that the long-running animated comedy continues to “hit record lows” and that it “hasn’t been relevant in 20 years.”

Parker and Stone’s production company, Park County, is also slated to release, Like That, a live-action movie starring rap superstar Kendrick Lamar in March 2026.

South Park airs Wednesdays on Comedy Central at 10 p.m. ET, and streams on Paramount+ the next day.

Two weeks after his passing, Ozzy Osbourne‘s cause of death has been revealed. According to The New York Times, a death certificate filed at a registry in London submitted by Osbourne’s daughter, Aimée Osbourne, cites cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes of a heart attack that felled the 76-year-old music legend; the death certificate also noted that Osbourne had Parkinson’s disease.

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Specifically, the certificate, which listed Osbourne’s occupation as “songwriter, performer and rock legend,” noted that Osbourne died of “(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes).”

Osbourne died on July 22, with the certificate revealing that an air ambulance flew to his home near the village of Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire, England that day to provide “advanced critical care.” According to the Times, after stopping near Osbourne’s home, the ambulance flew approximately eight miles to Harefield Hospital in the London suburb of Uxbridge, where it spent “about an hour” at the hospital with its engines running.

The singer’s family did not reveal his cause of death when they announced his passing, though Osbourne had been open in the years before about treatment for Parkinson’s and spinal damage — and subsequent surgeries — he’d undergone on his spine and neck. Unable to stand or walk, Osbourne performed what as billed as his, and his former band Black Sabbath’s, final show on July 5 in their hometown of Birmingham, England.

The all-star Back to the Beginning concert, which reportedly raised more than $190 million for charities, included Osbourne playing five songs from his solo career and four more with his original Sabbath bandmates while seated on a black throne. In the lead-up to the all-day show, Osbourne repeatedly stressed that while he could not walk, he was determined to “do the best I can” at the concert at Villa Park stadium.

Fans flocked to the streets of Birmingham on July 30 for a funeral procession for Osbourne, who was later laid to rest in a private family ceremony in the city.

The 59th Annual CMA Awards nominees, as well as the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists, will be revealed during a livestream on the CMA’s official Facebook and YouTube channels on Monday, Sept. 8.

The nominations will honor the artists, songwriters, musicians and industry professionals who have helped shape the genre over the past year.

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The 59th Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live on Wednesday, Nov. 19 on ABC and will stream the following day on Hulu. The second ballot for the CMA Awards opens today, and as part of the awards show’s peer-voting tradition, the second ballot allows CMA members to help shape the final slate of nominees across all 12 categories. The second ballot voting ends Monday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. CT.

This year’s CMA Awards Week will be filled with events leading up to the CMA Awards ceremony on Nov. 19. “Country Forward,” the CMA’s bi-annual day party will kick off CMA Awards Week on Nov. 16, while the CMA Media Remote, a two-day media hub for country artists to connect with radio and digital outlets, is set for Nov. 17 and Nov. 18. The CMA Broadcast Awards Presentation will take place during the pre-telecast ceremony on Nov. 19, prior to the live primetime show, and will honor winners in radio and broadcast categories. The CMA International Awards will recognize honorees from around the world during the CMA International Reception on Nov. 19.

Following the CMA Awards on Nov. 19, the official CMA Awards After Party will celebrate honorees and the country music community. (CMA Members can purchase tickets beginning Aug. 13.) Meanwhile, the CMA Awards Backstage Academy, which is designed to cater to students, will offer a behind-the-scenes tour of the CMA Awards as well as a panel featuring key leaders in the country music industry.

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Additionally, All Access On-Site, which supports artist and crew wellbeing, will return for a second year to provide licensed mental health professionals during CMA Awards rehearsals and on show day. The program offers confidential, in-person support to artists and crew-members navigating the high-pressure demands of live production.

Last year’s top CMA Awards winners included entertainer of the year winner Morgan Wallen, male vocalist of the year winner Chris Stapleton, female vocalist of the year winner Lainey Wilson, new artist of the year winner Megan Moroney and album of the year winner Cody Johnson (for his album Leather).

Lady Gaga leads the nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with 12 nods, followed closely by her “Die With a Smile” duet partner Bruno Mars, who has 11 nods. Other top contenders are Kendrick Lamar (10), ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter (eight each), Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (seven each) and Billie Eilish (six).

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This marks the third time Gaga has paced the nominations, having previously done so in 2010 (13 nods) and 2020 (when she was tied for the lead with nine nods). Gaga has won 18 VMAs, so she is within striking distance of the top of the VMA leaderboard. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are currently tied for most VMA wins (30 each). (Both of those superstars received one nod this year, artist of the year.)

Mars has two nominations for video of the year. He’s nominated for both “Die With a Smile” and “APT.,” his collab with ROSÉ. Mars is just the fourth artist to land two video of the year nods in the same year, following David Lee Roth (1985), U2 (1988) and Lady Gaga (2010).

Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is also up for video of the year. The smash won five Grammys on Feb. 2, including best music video. Lamar has won video of the year at the VMAs twice, as featured artist on Swift’s “Bad Blood” and for his own “HUMBLE.” If he wins again this year, he’ll stand alone as runner-up to Swift for most wins the most wins in this category. Swift has won the award five times, including the last three years in a row. Lamar is currently in a five-way tie for second place with Beyoncé, Eminem, Missy Elliott and Rihanna.

Grande’s “brighter days ahead” is nominated for both video of the year and best long form video. The latter award has been awarded only three times – to Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection (1991), Beyoncé’s Lemonade (2016) and Swift’s All Too Well: The Short Film (2022). Swift’s title also won video of the year.

This year’s other nominees for video of the year, not already named, are Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Carpenter’s “Manchild” and The Weeknd/Playboi Carti collab “Timeless.”

Swift isn’t nominated for video of the year – her only eligible video was “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” – which means we’ll see someone other than Swift win video of the year for the first time since 2021, when Lil Nas X took the prize for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name.”) Swift also won artist of the year the last two years running, and is competing in that category again — this time with Lady Gaga, the 2020 winner; Bad Bunny, who won in 2022; and four artists who have yet to win in the category: Beyoncé, Lamar, Wallen and The Weeknd.       

The nominees for best new artist are Alex Warren, Ella Langley, Gigi Perez, Lola Young, sombr and The Marías. All are also seen as strong candidates in the upcoming Grammy race for best new artist. (Grammy nominations will be announced on Nov. 7.)

The Marías are also nominated here for best alternative for “Back to Me.” The female-fronted indie pop band is the only group or duo to receive two or more nominations this year.

ROSÉ received eight solo nominations, but the Blackpink star was not eligible for best new artist. Nor was Damiano David of Måneskin fame, who received two solo nods. JENNIE and JISOO (both also of Blackpink) and Jimin (of BTS) also earned their first solo nods.

Eminem, who has won 15 VMAs, more than any other male artist, has three more nominations this year.

The VMAs finally added a country category in their 42nd year. The nominees for the inaugural best country award are Chris Stapleton’s “Think I’m in Love With You,” Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood’s “I’m Gonna Love You,” Jelly Roll’s “Liar,” Lainey Wilson’s “4x4xU,” Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” and Morgan Wallen’s “Smile.”

The VMAs have added several other genre-specific categories in recent years — best Latin (2010), best K-Pop (2019) and best Afrobeats (2023).

Bad Bunny is this year’s top Latin nominee with four nominations – best Latin for “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” and three in all-genre categories: artist of the year, best album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and best long form video for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film).” Bunny won the artist of the year award in 2022 and was nominated again last year.

All VMA categories are gender-neutral for the ninth consecutive year. 

The VMAs will air on CBS for the first time this year, and will simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show, set for Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, will be held at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y for the second year in a row.

Fan voting is now open in 19 categories (which is everything but the six technical categories). Fans can vote by visiting vote.mtv.com until Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET. Voting for best new artist will remain active into show. (Fans can get additional votes for video of the year, artist of the year and best new artist by commenting under the pinned posts on @VMAs Instagram using the artist-specific hashtags through Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.  Fans get double the votes per category every day during “Power Hour,” running daily 1-2 p.m. ET from Aug. 7 through Sept. 4.)

There are initially 10 nominees for song of the year. On Aug. 18 at 12 p.m. ET, the field will narrow, with the top six vote-getters moving on to Round 2. (The eliminated artists will retain their nominations in MTV’s official nominations tallies.) Voting for Round 2 continues through Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET, when voting closes for all categories except best new artist.

The 2025 VMAs are executive produced by Bruce Gillmer, Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic, and Barb Bialkowski. Gunpowder & Sky CEO Van Toffler is producer. Alicia Portugal is co-executive producer. Jackie Barba is executive in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is executive in charge of music talent.

The 2024 VMAs delivered the show’s biggest multi-network audience in four years (up 25% year-over-year). Moreover, it ranked as the most social VMAs ever (66.7 million social interactions).

Here’s the complete list of nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, followed by a list of every artist who received two or more nominations this year.

Video of the Year

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records

Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” – Darkroom/Interscope Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile” – Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment           

Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records 

Kendrick Lamar – pgLang/Interscope Records     

Lady Gaga – Interscope Records

Morgan Wallen – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records      

Taylor Swift – Republic Records 

The Weeknd – XO/Republic Records       

Song of the Year

Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records        

Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” – Darkroom/Interscope Records        

Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records  

Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records    

Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry” – Interscope Records       

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile” – Interscope Records          

Lorde – “What Was That” – Republic Records      

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records  

Tate McRae – “Sports Car” – RCA Records             

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records

Best New Artist

Alex Warren – Atlantic Records

Ella Langley – SAWGOD/Columbia Records

Gigi Perez – Island

Lola Young – Island

sombr – SMB Music/Warner Records

The Marías – Nice Life/Atlantic Records

Best Collaboration

Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville

Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile” – Interscope Records

Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me a Drink” – Mercury Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

Best Album

Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Rimas Entertainment

Kendrick Lamar – GNX – pgLang/Interscope Records         

Lady Gaga – Mayhem – Interscope Records          

Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records  

Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet – Island          

The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow – XO/Republic Records            

Best Long Form Video

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records

Bad Bunny – “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)” – Rimas Entertainment             

Damiano David – “FUNNY little STORIES” – Sony Italy/Arista Records         

Mac Miller – “Balloonerism” – Warner Records   

Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful” – Columbia Records

The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records       

Video for Good

Burna Boy – “Higher” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records                     

Charli xcx – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic Records

Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records                  

Eminem feat. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records                         

Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Younger and Hotter Than Me” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records                              

Zach Hood feat. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalking” – Arista Records

MTV Push Performance of the Year

August 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood/EMPIRE          

September 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin Records/Republic Records           

October 2024 – Mark Ambor – “Belong Together” – Hundred Days Records/Virgin Music           

November 2024 – Lay Bankz – “Graveyard” – Artist Partner Group Inc.   

December 2024 – Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye” – Warner Records        

January 2025 – KATSEYE – “Touch” – HYBE/Geffen Records     

February 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “KEHLANI” – 300 Entertainment      

March 2025 – Leon Thomas – “YES IT IS” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records             

April 2025 – Livingston – “Shadow” – Republic Records      

May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer” – Sony Italy/Arista Records

June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island     

July 2025 – ROLE MODEL – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” – Interscope Records             

Genre Categories

Best Pop Artist

Ariana Grande – Republic Records

Charli xcx – Atlantic Records

Justin Bieber – Def Jam Recordings

Lorde – Republic Records

Miley Cyrus – Columbia Records

Sabrina Carpenter – Island

Tate McRae – RCA Records

Best Pop

Alex Warren – “Ordinary” – Atlantic Records        

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Record              

Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records    

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile” – Interscope Records          

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records  

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Hip-Hop

Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records  

Drake – “NOKIA” – OVO/Santa Anna/Republic     

Eminem feat. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records         

GloRilla feat. Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – CMG/Interscope Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records       

LL COOL J feat. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux” – Def Jam Recordings             

Travis Scott – “4X4” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records   

Best R&B

Chris Brown – “Residuals” – Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records       

Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “MUTT (REMIX)” – EZMNY Records/Motown Records      

Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous” – gamma.        

PARTYNEXTDOOR – “N o C h i l l” – OVO Sound   

Summer Walker – “Heart of a Woman” – LVRN/Interscope Records          

SZA – “Drive” – Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records    

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless” – XO/Republic Records   

Best Alternative

Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” – Island             

Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up” – KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records            

Lola Young – “Messy” – Island

mgk & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road” – EST 19XX/Interscope Records 

sombr – “back to friends” – SMB Music/Warner Records

The Marías – “Back to Me” – Nice Life/Atlantic Records  

Best Rock

Coldplay – “All My Love” – Atlantic Records

Evanescence – “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series Devil May Cry)” – Netflix Music             

Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard” – Reprise Records/Warner Records

Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH

Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine” – Warner Records

twenty one pilots – “The Contract” – Fueled By Ramen                    

Best Latin

Bad Bunny – “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” – Rimas Entertainment             

J Balvin – “Rio” – Capitol Records

KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – Bichota Records/Interscope Records

Peso Pluma – “LA PATRULLA” – Double P Records              

Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?” – Sony Music US Latin

Shakira – “Soltera“ – Sony Music US Latin

Best K-Pop

aespa – “Whiplash” – SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group        

JENNIE – “like JENNIE” – OA Entertainment/Columbia Records     

Jimin – “Who” – BIGHIT MUSIC   

JISOO – “earthquake” – Warner Records

LISA feat. Doja Cat & RAYE – “Born Again” – Lloud Co./RCA Records

Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom” – JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic    

ROSÉ – “toxic till the end” – Atlantic Records       

Best Afrobeats

Asake & Travis Scott – “Active” – YBNL Nation/EMPIRE    

Burna Boy feat. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa” – Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records       

MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)” – gamma.            

Rema – “Baby (Is It a Crime)” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records    

Tems feat. Asake – “Get It Right” – RCA Records/Since ’93  

Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records           

Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece Of My Heart” – Starboy/RCA Records

Best Country

Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You” – Mercury Nashville           

Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You” – CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville      

Jelly Roll – “Liar” – BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records        

Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU” – Broken Bow Records 

Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – Columbia Records       

Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

Technical Categories

Best Direction

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records

Charli xcx – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Art Direction

Charli xcx – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records

Lorde – “Man Of The Year” – Republic Records

Miley Cyrus – “End of the World” – Columbia Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Best Cinematography

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records

Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records

Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover” – Columbia Records

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Best Editing

Charli xcx – “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish – Atlantic Records

Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)” – Atlantic Records

Best Choreography

Doechii – “Anxiety” – Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records

FKA twigs – “Eusexua” – Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records

Tyla – “PUSH 2 START” – FAX Records/Epic Records

Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly” – Epic Records

Best Visual Effects

Ariana Grande – “brighter days ahead” – Republic Records

Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” – Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island

Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From F1 The Movie)” – Atlantic Records

The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow” – XO/Republic Records

All Artists With 2 or More Nominations

(Asterisk denotes first-time nominee)

Lady Gaga, 12

Bruno Mars, 11

Kendrick Lamar, 10

ROSÉ, 8 *

Sabrina Carpenter, 8

Ariana Grande, 7

The Weeknd, 7

Billie Eilish, 6

Charli xcx, 5

Playboi Carti, 5

Bad Bunny, 4

Doechii, 4

Ed Sheeran, 4

Jelly Roll, 4

Miley Cyrus, 4

Tate McRae, 4

Alex Warren, 3 *

Eminem, 3

Gigi Perez, 3 *

Lorde, 3

Morgan Wallen, 3

Playboi Carti, 3

Travis Scott, 3

Asake, 2

benny blanco, 2

Burna Boy, 2

Damiano David, 2 *

Leon Thomas, 2 *

Lola Young, 2 *

Selena Gomez, 2

sombr, 2 *

SZA, 2

The Marías, 2 *

Tyla, 2

Indie finance platform beatBread said on Tuesday it secured $124 million in loans and equity investment to expand its lending products for unsigned artists, writers and labels.

Equity investors leading the funding round include global banking giant Citigroup and venture investors and long-time beatBread backers Deciens Capital and Mucker Capital. Other investors include Advantage Capital, while GMO provided additional credit funding.

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“At beatBread, we’re building a financial foundation for true artist and label independence,” beatBread CEO Peter Sinclair said in a statement. “By giving creators more choice, more access and more control, we’re helping them stay independent on their own terms … [to] compare multiple funding options from multiple funding sources and make the choice that’s right for them.”

Peter Sinclair, beatBread CEO

Peter Sinclair, beatBread CEO

Courtesy Photo

The latest fundraise follows two earlier capital infusions in 2022 when beatBread raised $34 million from Deciens, Mucker and others, and separately $100 million secured through an institutional funding agreement with Variant Investments.

Launched in 2020, beatBread’s offerings include providing artist advances, which can range from $1,000 to $10 million. Artists, songwriters and indie labels with over 10,000 monthly listeners on Spotify can secure loans by pledging a portion of their back catalog to beatBread for a term of several years and/or future release royalties from streaming. The platform’s funding network and deal comparison tools present clients with offers from multiple distribution and finance companies. Most artists put the advance toward paying fees for collaborators, creating music videos and funding digital marketing campaigns.

The investment from Citi, made by the banking group’s fintech investment arm called SPRINT, marks its first investment related to music royalties, Citi’s head of markets and innovation investments Lee Smallwood said in a statement.

Citi recently signed an agreement with the global private equity firm Carlyle to partner on debt and equity financing for growing financial technology firms through SPRINT.

Good things come to those who wait, and the country community waited a long time for its own category at the MTV Video Music Awards. The VMAs announced on Tuesday (Aug. 5) that they are finally adding a country category this year, the 42nd edition of the iconic show.

Nominees for the inaugural best country award are Chris Stapleton’s “Think I’m in Love With You,” Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood’s “I’m Gonna Love You,” Jelly Roll’s “Liar,” Lainey Wilson’s “4x4xU,” Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” and Morgan Wallen’s “Smile.”

“Think I’m in Love With You,” “I’m Gonna Love You” and “4x4xU” were among the nominees for visual media of the year at the ACM Awards in May.

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The announcement of the new VMA category comes less than two months after the Recording Academy announced that they are adding a fifth Grammy category devoted to country music, best traditional country album.

The VMAs have included a performance from one country artist on each of their last four telecasts, showing an awareness that country is less niche than it used to be. Kacey Musgraves performed “Star-Crossed” on the 2021 show, followed by Kane Brown (“Grand,” 2022), Kelsea Ballerini (“Penthouse,” 2023) and Jelly Roll (as a featured artist on Eminem’s “Somebody Save Me,” 2024).

In addition, country artists pop up in various other categories on the 2025 VMA nominations list. Wallen is nominated for two other awards – artist of the year and best album for I’m the Problem. Jelly Roll is nominated for three other awards – best hip-hop and video for good for his featured role on Eminem’s “Somebody Save Me,” and best alternative for “Lonely Road,” his collab with mgk.

Two country pairs are nominated for best collaboration — Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs for “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” and Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton for “Pour Me a Drink.”

Ella Langley is nominated for best new artist. Langley won new female artist of the year at the ACM Awards in May. She is also seen as a strong contender for a Grammy nod for best new artist when those nominations are announced on Nov. 7.

Two country artists, Shaboozey and Dasha, are nominated for MTV Push Performance of the Year.

The VMAs have added three other genre-specific categories in recent years: best Latin (2010), best K-Pop (2019) and best Afrobeats (2023).

Even without a dedicated country category at the VMAs, a few country artists have been nominated in the show’s most prestigious category, video of the year. In 1985, the second year of the VMAs, USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” was nominated for video of the year. The all-star video featured three country icons – Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.

Johnny Cash was nominated in 2003 for his aching version of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt.” Taylor Swift received her first of seven video of the year nominations in 2013 for “I Knew You Were Trouble,” a pop-leaning song from Red, her last studio album before her pivot to pop. Billy Ray Cyrus was nominated in 2019 for “Old Town Road (Remix),” his smash collab with Lil Nas X.

The Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Awards both added a music video category on their 1985 telecasts. Hank Williams Jr.’s cameo-studded “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” was the inaugural winner at both shows.

The VMAs will air on CBS for the first time this year, and will simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show, set for Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, will be held at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y for the second year in a row.

Fan voting is now open in 19 categories (which is everything but the six technical categories). Fans can vote by visiting vote.mtv.com until Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET. Voting for best new artist will remain active into show. (Fans can get additional votes for video of the year, artist of the year and best new artist by commenting under the pinned posts on @VMAs Instagram using the artist-specific hashtags through Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.  Fans get double the votes per category every day during “Power Hour,” running daily 1-2 p.m. ET from Aug. 7 through Sept. 4.)

Genre-Specific Categories Timeline

Nine genres currently have genre-specific categories at the VMAs. Here they are, listed in the order that they were introduced.

Best Rock: 1989

Best Alternative: 1991

Best R&B: 1993

Best Pop: 1999

Best Hip-Hop: 1999

Best Latin: 2010

Best K-pop: 2019

Best Afrobeats: 2023

Best Country: 2025

Best Country Nominees

Here are this year’s nominees for best country, showing record labels.

Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You” – Mercury Nashville           

Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You” – CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville      

Jelly Roll – “Liar” – BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records        

Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU” – Broken Bow Records 

Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – Columbia Records       

Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

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.

Over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones have a way of helping you sink even deeper into your favorite tunes, especially if you’re a music fan. They’re a great way to block out the world around you to really focus in on your music, or to just get some peace and quiet in loud and busy spaces.

To make the search a little easier, we’ve rounded up a list of the best over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones. Our list are from top brands, like Sony, Bose, Sonos, Apple and others, that are known for top-of-the-line audio, while these cans are available to purchase at popular online retailers, like Walmart, Amazon and more, for quick and convenient ways to shop online.

Scroll down and check out our recommendations for the best noise-canceling headphones to buy in 2025.

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST AUDIO

Sony WH-1000XM6

$429.99 $449.99 4% off

Buy Now At Sony

$428 $449.99 5% off

Buy Now On Amazon


On sale for $429.99 (regularly $449.99), the Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones are a step up from their previous model with improved audio, enhanced immersion, and overall better and more functional design. They feature sharp and detailed sound for a wide range of music genres, while their deep and booming bass adds more depth and texture to your favorite songs. We like their folding design, which makes them easier to travel with while on a flight.

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST NOISE-CANCELING

Bose QuietComfort Ultra


For deep immersion and standout noise-cancelation, we like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones — especially with their comfortable design and all-day battery life. Priced at $449, these headphones are ideal for those times you really want to focus on your music, or just escape into your own space of silence. They come in four eye-catching colors, including deep plum, lunar blue, white smoke and black.

Let’s face it. If you’re going to wear a pair of headphones over your head and ear, then you want to look good doing it. The Sonos Ace Headphones are sleek, stylish and clean with splendid audio quality and immersive noise-cancelation features to match. One of the best things about these headphones is they brilliantly and seamlessly sync to other Sonos products. This comes in handy with Sonos soundbars and speakers because you can pair the headphones to your Sonos home theater system for nighttime viewing. Now you won’t disrupt your household, if you’re watching Top Gun: Maverick when everyone is asleep.

First of all, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones look great with a sharp design and comfortable fit with three gorgeous colors. However, the headphones have a great level of performance with detailed and rich sound, and deep and rumbling bass. They perform very well with phone calls too.

British design company Nothing is known for their unique smartphones, but in 2025, they launched the Nothing Headphone (1), the company’s first noise-canceling headphones. They features excellent audio that’s natural, robust and deep with sound by KEF, while the headphones have a unique design that’s just as quirky and eye-catching as the new Nothing Phone (3).

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST FOR ANDROID SMARTPHONES

Yamaha YH-L500A


If you’re an Android smartphone or tablet user, then the Yamaha YH-L500A Headphones are a must — especially for their Google Fast Pair features. The headphones automatically sync to just about any Android device without digging into setting or holding pairing buttons. Just turn them on near your Android phone and you’ll be synced in seconds. The headphones also feature stellar audio that’s crisp, clear, and rich, while their home theater settings makes it feel like you’re in your own private home entertainment center when watching movies and TV shows or listening to your favorite music.

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST WALLET-FRIENDLY

OneOdio Focus A6

$69.99 $79.99 13% off

Buy Now At OneAdio


Great audio and top-of-the-line noise-cancelation features don’t have to cost you an arm and leg anymore. Enter the OneOdio Focus A6, a great pair of noise-canceling headphones that has sharp sound, keen design, long battery life and a wallet-friendly price — now on sale for $69.99 (regularly $79.99).

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST BATTERY LIFE

Dyson OnTrac

$299.99 $499.99 40% off

Buy Now At Dyson

$299.99 $499 40% off

Buy Now On Amazon


Dyson is getting into the headphone game and their first pair is quite impressive. The Dyson OnTrac, which are on sale for $299.99 (regularly $499.99), are super stylish with a wide range of colorways that’s customizable with detachable ear cups and ear cushions. They feature outstanding audio quality that’s crisp and rich, while their noise-canceling features are immersive and solid. It feels and sounds as if you’re hermetically-sealed tube of audio. However, they’re claim to fame is their long battery life of up to 55 hours per charge, as the headband’s cushions double as external batteries for additional juice throughout days of use.

For Apple iPhone and Apple iPad users, the Apple AirPods Max are our pick for best noise-canceling headphones. Not only do these headphones feature best-in-class noise-canceling features that block out just about all background and ambient noise, they also seamlessly sync to Apple devices with ease. This is ideal if you have multiple Apple products, like an Apple MacBook, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV 4K and others, and want to switch back-and-forth between devices. Now you can listen to an audiobook on your favorite songs on Apple Music on your iPhone and then keep listening to the same song on your MacBook without skipping a beat.

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST FOR DOLBY ATMOS

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100


If you’re a fan of Dolby Atmos audio quality, then the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 Headphones are for you. At $2,200, the B&O Beoplay H100 — which are made with titanium drivers — feature studio reference-level audio quality that optimized for Dolby Atmos for immersive and detailed sound. In fact, the audio is so deep that you can actually feel the audio quality, as well as hear it.

How to buy the best noise-canceling headphones online

BEST LUXURY

Hermès Headphones


For complete luxury, then look no further than the Hermès Headphones. Yes, the luxury fashion company just entered the headphone market with a sleek pair of cans that’s made for high-fidelity audio, which is balanced, precise and natural. Priced at a whopping $13,499 (€11,800), the Hermès Headphones are the height of luxury, tech and soundscape.

Want more? Shop more of the best noise-canceling headphones from top brands, like Beats by Dre, Sennheiser, JBL and others, on Amazon, below:

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox dealsstudio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

Offset announced his third album, KIARI, on Monday (Aug. 22), which is slated to arrive later this month on Aug. 22 via Motown Records.

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Lending his birth name — Kiari Kendrell Cephus — to the project, it appears Set will get introspective as the press release notes that the album will be his “most personal body of work yet.”

The tracklist boasts 18 songs, including Offset’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “Bodies” featuring JID, as well as “Professional.” He’s recruited a handful of guest appearances from YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Gunna, YFN Lucci, Ty Dolla $ign, John Legend and Key Glock.

Offset had revealed Sabrina Carpenter as his celebrity crush, but the speculation surrounding a possible collaboration appears not to have come to fruition, unless he’s saving that as a surprise.

The rapper made the album announcement official in Times Square on Monday, which found him surrounded by hundreds of doppelgangers holding up the cover art to the project and dancing through the NYC tourist attraction. Footage showed him also filming scenes for a possible upcoming visual.

The 33-year-old had been teasing an album throughout 2024, but ended up continuing to delay the LP amid estranged wife Cardi B filing for divorce and welcoming their third child together.

KIARI serves as Set’s third solo album and first since 2023’s Set It Off; both his sophomore album and Father of Four debut which arrived in the Billboard 200′s top five.

See the KIARI cover art and tracklist below.

  1. “Enemies”
  2. “Pills” (feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again)
  3. “Professional”
  4. “Back in That Mode” (feat. YFN Lucci)
  5. “Different Species” (feat. Gunna)
  6. “Bodies” (feat. J.I.D.)
  7. “Love You Down”
  8. “Run It Up” (feat. Key Glock)
  9. “Set It Off”
  10. “Folgers”
  11. “All of My Shoes”
  12. “Calories”
  13. “Checkmate”
  14. “Backends Fasho”
  15. “Prada Myself” (feat. Teezo Touchdown)
  16. “Never Let Go” (feat. John Legend)
  17. “Favorite Girl” (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
  18. “Move On”