During Gracie Abrams’ conversation with frequent collaborator Audrey Hobert for Spotify’s “You’re Invited, I’m Sorry: An Evening with Gracie Abrams” event, the pop superstar revealed that the pair wrote a crass version of the Billboard Top 15 hit single, “That’s So True,” that the public will never hear. While discussing the song’s origins, Hobert discloses, “We were drunk when we wrote the lyrics,” with Abrams adding, “Yeah, there’s a whole, very vulgar version… that will never see the light of day!” Even if fans won’t ever get the chance to listen to the filthy version, apparently Mumford & Sons have heard it. Abrams said they were writing “That’s So True” on the roof of Electric Lady Studios, “just doubled over in tears, laughing so hard, saying the most horrific sh*t to song,” Abrams shared. Lee Foster, who runs Electric Lady, sent a text to Abrams saying “Mumford & Sons are doing an interview right above you.” “It was bad,” Abrams recalled. (Rolling Stone)

Pharrell Williams announced on Instagram on Tuesday (November 12) that he has partnered with Evian to launch limited-edition “Fountain of Youth” water bottles. The release is also a collaboration with Humanrace, the lifestyle and skincare company founded by Pharrell. The Evian x Humanrace glass bottles were designed by Williams and are available in blue and green colors with still and sparkling water options. The custom bottles also feature the phrase, “This Is the Fountain of Youth,” emblazoned on the front. “Staying hydrated is fundamental,” Williams said in a statement. “These bottles represent more than just water — they’re a reminder that self-care can be joyful.” Pharrell hopes this collaboration will “inspire people to embrace the small moments that contribute to our overall well-being,” while also hoping to “start conversations at the dinner table and remind us of the fundamental role water plays in our wellness.” (Billboard)

Gwen Stefani is set to release her fourth solo album, Bouquet, on Friday (November 15). But the pop superstar is also looking back on the two decades since the release of her Grammy-nominated debut solo record, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which dropped twenty years ago this week. Stefani rose to fame with her chart-topping ska-pop band, No Doubt, before going solo in 2004, which gave the singer an unlimited amount of musical freedom. "At that point, things were unhinged, meaning that I had zero restrictions: I wasn't in the band. I didn't have children. I wasn't married," Stefani said in a new interview with People. "I was like, 'I'm making a guilty-pleasure dance record.' I had such an unbelievably clear vision of what I wanted to do. I had been so put down that I was like, 'I’m just going to show them what I got.'” (People)

Snoop Dogg has partnered with jewelry brand Metal Alchemist and the media company gamma for a new jewelry collection called Lovechild. A pre-sale for the rapper's Lovechild line launched on Wednesday (November 13) via Snoop.Love, while the jewelry collection will be available for retail purchase on December 6 exclusively at Reeds 57 locations and their online store. “I chose to name the collection Lovechild because I felt like the world is so full of anger and negativity and division, and I know that I lead with love,” Snoop shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “The news is quick to bring you bad news, so we are stepping in with a whole new force of love.” Metal Alchemist founder Carolyn Rafaelian says, “With Snoop’s deep-rooted belief in love as an energy that transforms, and Metal Alchemist’s dedication to crafting clean, powerful precious metal innovation, Lovechild was born.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

A new version of Band Aid’s charity single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” will be released on November 25 to celebrate the song’s 40th anniversary. The benefit song was originally released back in 1984, ultimately raising over £140 million ($178 million) for Band Aid Charitable Trust to help fight against poverty in Africa. The song was written and organized by Bob Geldof and Ultravox’s Midge Ure, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all-time in the U.K. The tune was subsequently re-recorded in 1989, 2004, and 2014, featuring a new lineup of contemporary singers in each different version.

The upcoming release of “Do They Know It’s Christmas? 2024 Ultimate Mix,” will combine the various voices from all four existing versions of the track. Sting, Boy George and George Michael (1984), Bananarama (1989), Sugababes, Chris Martin, and Robbie Williams (2004), Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, and Sam Smith (2014) will all be featured vocalists, along with U2’s Bono, who appeared on multiple versions of the single and will appear three times in the new mix. (Billboard) 

Noah Kahan finished up his successful We'll All Be Here Forever Tour back in September. During those shows, the hit songwriter raised over $2.5 million for his mental health organization, The Busyhead Project. Some of Kahan’s tour stops also included The Busyhead Project Action Village, which featured stalls and displays that informed fans of various mental health-related services. Kahan has supported 108 local organizations with The Busyhead Project throughout his global tour, while also partnering with Backline to provide free mental health care, wellness days, and more services. Kahan founded The Busyhead Project in May of 2023, and has donated a portion of every ticket sold during his subsequent tours to the organization. Back in September, Kahan hosted The Busyhead Project Benefit Concert in his home state of Vermont, with all proceeds going towards his mental health foundation. (Holler)

John Mayer is purchasing the historic Hollywood lot that was established by Charlie Chaplin and later owned by A&M Records and the Jim Henson Company. A representative for Mayer – who already has an office on the famed lot – has confirmed that the musician is “under contract to buy Henson Studios,” along with movie director and producer McG. The deal is believed to be worth around $60 million. The lot was originally the home of Charlie Chaplin Studios from its inception in 1917 up until 1953, with classic films like The Kid, The Great Dictator, and Modern Times all shot there.

A&M Records founders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss bought the lot in 1966 and turned it into a recording studio, before Jim Henson’s children purchased the property in 1999 and turned it into the home of the Muppets. The recording studios established by A&M remained in use as Henson Recording Studios, which is where Mayer made his latest solo album, 2021’s Sob Rock. (Rolling Stone)

Live Nation announced that they posted their biggest summer concert season in their history. The ticketing and live entertainment giant saw its profitability rise 39% to $474 million over the previous year, with a recorded revenue of $7.7 billion. This news comes after Live Nation recorded its all-time biggest first quarter earlier this year, which follows a record-setting 2023. The company disclosed that they sold 144 million tickets for 2024 Live Nation concerts through October, a 3% gain over 2023.  “We wrapped up our most active summer concert season ever,” said Michael Rapino, Live Nation’s president-CEO. “As we look toward an even bigger 2025, we have a larger lineup of stadium, arena and amphitheater shows for fans to enjoy. Momentum continues to build, as we expand the industry’s infrastructure with music-focused venues to support artists and reach untapped fan demand across the globe.”
(Variety)

In a new interview published by the Los Angeles Times on Monday (November 11), Sting shared his thoughts about how Diddy’s sex trafficking allegations affects how he feels about the Police tune, “Every Breath You Take.” Diddy famously sampled the 1983 Billboard No. 1 hit in his and Faith Evans’ 1997 song, “I’ll Be Missing You,” but the recent charges against the disgraced music mogul doesn’t change how Sting feels about the original version. “I mean, I don’t know what went on [with Diddy],” said the 73-year-old musician. “But it doesn’t taint the song at all for me. It’s still my song.” Sting believes these modern collaborations help introduce new fans to his music. “I never object because I always learn something about the song that I hadn’t known or anticipated,” says the music legend. “And I get paid, so why not? It keeps them current. Songs are living organisms — you have to keep breathing life into them or giving them new bedfellows.” (People)

JC Chasez will host a sing-along event for the Broadway musical & Juliet on Thursday (November 21) at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The musical’s score features a series of Max Martin hits, including *NSYNC’s Billboard No. 1 hit, "It's Gonna Be Me." "I've had the pleasure of seeing & Juliet on a number of occasions and the energy in the room was always electric," Chasez said in a press release. "I couldn’t be more excited to join in on the fun along with the fans to honor my good friend Max and to celebrate the show's two years on Broadway." Chasez’s *NSYNC bandmate Joey Fatone will join the cast of & Juliet on January 21, 2025 in a limited engagement that concludes on March 16. "I’m excited that I’ll be joining the cast of & Juliet!,” Fatone said back in October. "I can’t wait to get out there and sing Max Martin’s amazing songs — his hits have shaped so much of pop music.” (People)

In an Instagram post on Tuesday (November 12), the Songwriters Hall of Fame revealed the impressive list of 2025 nominees for possible induction into the venerable institution. The nominees in the Performing Songwriters category feature Eminem, N.W.A., Janet Jackson, Alanis Morissette, Boy George, Bryan Adams, Steve Winwood, Sheryl Crow, George Clinton, Doobie Brothers, Tommy James, Mike Love, and more. Nominees in the Songwriters category are led by country hitmaker Ashley Gorley and R&B producer extraordinaire Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. Qualifications for nomination to the Songwriters Hall of Fame require 20 years to have passed after a songwriter’s first significant commercial release of a song. Eligible voting members have until midnight ET on December 22, 2024 to submit their ballots. 2024 inductees included R.E.M., Steely Dan, SZA, and producer Timbaland. (Variety)

Olivia Rodrigo is the next music superstar announced as a headliner for the 2025 BST Hyde Park summer concert series. Rodrigo’s show was revealed on Instagram on Monday (November 11), and will take place in London on Friday, June 27. It will mark the “Bad Idea Right?” singer’s biggest U.K. show of her career. Rodrigo will be joined by special guests the Last Dinner Party and Girl In Red, with additional opening acts to be announced. Rodrigo joins previously announced 2025 BST Hyde Park headliners Jeff Lynne’s ELO (July 13), Zach Bryan (June 28-29), Hugh Jackman (July 6), and Noah Kahan (July 4). Rodrigo has been on a creative roll as of late, with her Netflix concert film, Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour, premiering on October 29, while on Friday (November 8) the singer and her longtime producer Dan Nigro received six Grammy Award nominations. “A bike ride, a sausage roll, and a Grammy nom!!!!! whatta day so grateful🤠🤠🤠,” Rodrigo wrote in a celebratory Instagram post. (Billboard)

Karol G is facing harsh criticism of the lyrics in her latest single, “+57,” with fans condemning the song for a controversial verse that “perpetuated the sexualization of minors.” The track features guest spots from fellow Colombian hitmakers Maluma, Feid, J Balvin, Ryan Castro, and Blessd.  The problematic lyrics include Karol’s boyfriend Feid along with Maluma and Castro sharing a verse that says, “A baddie since she was 14 / When she walks into the club, you can feel her energy.” On Monday (November 11), Karol G shared a heartfelt apology on her Instagram Story, where the pop superstar wrote in her native Spanish: “In this case, unfortunately, the lyrics in the song were taken out of context. None of the things said in the song are written in the way people have claimed, nor were sung with that perspective, but I hear you, and I take responsibility and I realize that I have so much to learn. I feel very affected and I’m sorry from the heart.” (Variety)

Mariah Carey is apparently going to be deposed on January 17 in an ongoing court case filed by her brother Morgan back in 2021. The lawsuit is tied to the publication of the pop superstar’s memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, with Morgan alleging that Carey lied about him in her book. The memoir contains passages detailing his physical violence towards his sister, while also claiming that he was a drug dealer in New York nightclubs. Morgan has repeatedly denied the accusations, stating that Carey’s allegations were “false and defamatory, personally invasive and painful.” A judge previously dismissed the majority of the lawsuit in 2022, but two sections were allowed to move on, including the claims he was a drug dealer. “In the end, not only will Mariah have to answer questions under oath about how she intentionally harmed her brother, but the public will learn the real truth behind their relationship and who the real victim is,” says Morgan’s lawyer. (The Daily Beast)

Shaboozey’s "A Bar Song (Tipsy)” sticks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a landmark 17th total week. The crossover hit becomes the longest-leading No. 1 by an artist with no accompanying acts in the Hot 100’s 66-year history, surpassing the 16-week rule of Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” in 2023. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” trails only the 19-week run of Lil Nas X’s 2019 hit, “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, for the longest No. 1 streak in chart history. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” sticks at No. 2, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” stays at No. 3, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” remains at No. 4 while her “Taste” jumps up two spots to No. 7, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control,” moves up a slot to No. 5, Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Wallen, drops a spot to No. 6, Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” moves up three spots to No. 8, Wallen’s “Love Somebody” dips one spot to No. 9, and Tyler, the Creator’s “Sticky,” featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, jumps up 14 spots to No.10. (Billboard)

Lil Nas X is readying the official release of his highly-anticipated new single, “Light Again,” for  this week. The music star revealed that “Light Again” was on its way in a video post on X on Thursday (November 7) that he captioned, “LIGHT AGAIN” OFFICIAL SONG & MUSIC VIDEO NEXT WEEK !” The promotional barrage has continued since then, with Nas sharing a teaser video on X on Sunday that suggests something new is on its way shortly. Nas wrote, “☆‧dreamboy··‧̩̥˟͙冬˟͙‧̩̥l phase 1. begins tomorrow. ✨💫🌟🌠” The clip features text that states, “When The World Needed Him The Most He Vanished But Now He’s Back…And Better” over a pulsating track, with Lil Nas X launching himself forward in a futuristic space age vehicle at the end of the video. The musician had previously featured brief clips of the Take a Daytrip-produced “Light Again” on his social media accounts as well as sharing it in full on his SoundCloud page. (Billboard)

The three NFL games taking place on Thanksgiving Day now all have stellar halftime entertainment planned. The NFL just announced that current Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper Shaboozey along with Lindsey Stirling will be joining Lainey Wilson as the halftime performers at the trio of football games scheduled on Thanksgiving. Shaboozey will perform in Detroit when the Lions take on their division rivals the Chicago Bears, while Stirling will perform in Green Bay when the Packers take on the Miami Dolphins. Wilson was already revealed as the halftime entertainment for the Dallas Cowboys annual Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants. “Thanksgiving football is an iconic tradition in this country, and I’m hyped to be a part of it this year,” Shaboozey says. “The Detroit Lions season has been pretty epic so far, and I’m excited to tap into that crazy energy their fans bring to Ford Field. I can’t wait for America to see the show we’ve been working on for y’all.” (Billboard)

Beyoncé’s country-flavored 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, and the chart-topping hits on the record, received 11 nominations at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including a nod in every one of the Country Music categories. Beyoncé was nominated in the prestigious Song, Record, and Album of the Year categories, along with recognition for Best Country Album, Best Country Song for “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Best Country Duo Performance for “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus, and Best Country Solo Performance for “16 Carriages.” Beyoncé becomes the most-nominated artist in the history of the Grammy Awards with 99 nods in her storied career, while Cowboy Carter’s 11 nominations is second only to Michael Jackson’s 12 nominations for  Thriller at the 1984 Grammy Awards. Beyoncé took to Instagram on Friday to share her big moment with Black country music legend, Linda Martell, who was featured on two tracks on Cowboy Carter. “Congratulations to my queen Linda Martell on your nomination and your contribution to Country Music,” Beyoncé appreciatively wrote. (Consequence of Sound)

Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA notches its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. This is the first record of Tyler’s career to spend two consecutive weeks atop the chart. Two debuts cracked this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10, as Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake 2 premiered at No. 3, while the Cure’s first album in 16 years, Songs of a Lost World, launched at No. 4. This marks the Cure’s highest charting album in over 30 years, and their first Top 10 record in over 20 years. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet slides up a spot to No. 2, Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us jumps up two slots to No. 5, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess vaults six spots to No. 6 after her recent Saturday Night Live performance, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft moves up two slots to No. 7, Rod Wave’s Last Lap drops three places to No. 8, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department moves up two spots to No. 9, and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time slides down two slots to No. 10. (Billboard)  

Following the announcement  of Chappell Roan’s first Grammy nominations of her career on Friday – including nods in all of the Big Four categories – it was revealed on Saturday that the pop superstar is parting ways with her management team. Roan’s Grammy nominations were conspicuously left off a since-deleted congratulatory post shared by the Instagram account of State of the Art, the management company that signed the pop superstar. State of the Art’s Nick Bobetsky was previously Roan’s manager, after initially meeting the singer back in 2018. “Her immense talent was clear immediately,” Bobetsky told Billboard about his first interactions with Roan. Roan has frequently shared her frustrations about her newfound fame and invasive fans, including an August Instagram post where she wrote, “I’m not afraid of the consequences for demanding respect. Just to let you know, every woman is feeling or has felt similar to what I’m experiencing. This isn’t a new situation.” (Billboard)