Starsplash Music News

At the FIFA Club World Cup Final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday (July 13), Coldplay made a surprise appearance during the halftime show, which also featured performances by J Balvin, Tems, Doja Cat, and Emmanuel Kelly. The 15-minute set, presented by Global Citizen and curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, opened with J Balvin's "Mi Gente," followed by Tems performing "Love Me JeJe," and Balvin returning for "Reggaeton." Doja Cat performed "Woman" before Coldplay closed the show, with Chris Martin and Emmanuel Kelly duetting "A Sky Full of Stars." The performance aimed to raise $100 million for global education access, and took place on an innovative stage setup in the upper level of the stadium. “By building our platform high in the stands, we ensured that the newly installed natural grass remains untouched while delivering an unforgettable show that is designed to be time-efficient and visually stunning,” said Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen. (Rolling Stone)

Drake headlined all three nights of London's Wireless Festival over the weekend, where the Toronto rap superstar brought out a series of high profile special guests, including Lauryn Hill, 21 Savage, Sexxy Red, Burna Boy, Vanessa Carlton, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Latto, Bryson Tiller, and more. The biggest headline came during Drake’s second set on Saturday (July 12), when he asked the crowd to "name another artist" who matches his performance level, and the audience began chanting "F--- Kendrick." Drake responded positively to the chant, as he smiled and told his longtime associate Chubbs, "Grab me a shot. I’ll drink to that." The incident comes amid his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, with Drake recently dropping his new single, "What Did I Miss?" – which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week – that calls out the "traitors" in his life who attended Kendrick’s infamous Pop Out concert in Los Angeles in June 2024. (People)

During his concert at Suffolk’s Portman Road stadium on Sunday night (July 13), Ed Sheeran got emotional when he shared the stage with one of his musical heroes, James Blunt. The two music stars performed a duet on Blunt's 2004 hit "Goodbye My Lover." Sheeran called the experience “a dream come true,” and he took to Instagram to share footage of the special collaboration while expressing why Blunt means so much to him. “I saw @jamesblunt when I was 13 opening for @eltonjohn at Portman Road. I bought his album that day, then got obsessed,” Sheeran wrote. “He became my favourite singer songwriter. His songs moulded me, his performing inspired me. I wanted to be him.” The two have gone on to form a close personal friendship, with Sheeran even serving as godfather to Blunt’s son. “Don’t meet your hero’s, unless your hero’s are James Blunt,” Sheeran added. “Love you mate.” (Billboard)

Rosé surprised fans at Blackpink's second sold-out concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday night (July 13) by inviting Bruno Mars to join her on stage to perform their worldwide chart-topping duet, "Apt." Fan shot footage of the collaboration captured the musicians sporting matching jackets for the performance, which culminated in a confetti-filled dance party alongside Blackpink’s backup dancers. The K-Pop group are in the midst of their highly-anticipated Deadline reunion tour, performing a series of 18 stadium shows throughout the world, including upcoming stops in Chicago, Toronto, and New York throughout July, followed by a scheduled performance at Japan's Tokyo Dome in early 2026. Blackpink launched their tour last week at Seoul’s Goyang Stadium, where the group debuted a new song, “Jump,” with the show marking their first live performance together in nearly two years. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (July 14), Bad Bunny surprised fans by releasing his brand new single, "Alambre Púa," the first track released since dropping his chart-topping album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, back in January. The song – which translates to “Barbed Wire” in English – made its debut as the opener during Bad Bunny’s historic 30-date residency at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The track is also accompanied by a music video featuring a woman dancing on a beach. The residency, which began on July 11 and runs until September 14, serves as a prelude to Bad Bunny's upcoming world tour, which spans Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, and runs through 2026. In addition to his flourishing music career, Benito is also set to appear in two films this year, Happy Gilmore 2 with Adam Sandler and Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. (Rolling Stone)

Alex Warren’s first career Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Ordinary,” has now spent six weeks atop the chart. Elsewhere in the Top 10, two tracks cracked the tally for the first time this week, as Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” debuts at No. 2, pushing the Canadian rapper’s record setting career total to 81 Hot 100 Top 10s, while HUNTR/X’s “Golden” vaults up 17 spots to reach No. 6, on the strength of being featured on the KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack, which surged to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen claims his 10th week with at least three simultaneous Hot 100 Top 10s, a career mark that only five acts — and no country artists — have previously reached.

Walen’s “What I Want,” featuring Tate McRae, falls one spot to No. 3, “Just in Case” drops one slot to No. 4, and “I’m the Problem” falls three places to No. 8, all of which are lifted from his chart-topping album, I’m the Problem, which is spending an eighth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The rest of the Top 10 is rounded out by Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy), which drops one spot to No. 5, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” falls one slot to No. 7, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” slides down one place to No. 9, and  Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” drops one slot to No. 10. (Billboard)

On Wednesday (July 9), Harper’s Bazaar published their list of the 50 “Hottest Men Of All Time,” which includes Tupac Shakur at No. 2, Lenny Kravitz at No. 3, Bad Bunny at No. 8, and Elvis Presley at No. 17. Other musicians like Maluma, Zayn Malik, and A$AP Rocky also made the list, along with actors such as Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Keanu Reeves. The No. 1 spot was claimed by actor James Dean, with his fellow Old Hollywood stars Paul Newman and Marlon Brando also making the list. According to the tally, Bad Bunny reached his “peak” hotness level in March when he showed off his abs in his steamy Calvin Klein ads, while Pac’s hottest moment was during his shirtless appearance in the “Hit ‘Em Up” music video, and Elvis’ hotness peak occurred every time he did his notorious “Jailhouse Rock” dance moves. (Billboard) 

Kanye West's Shanghai concert on Saturday night (July 12) faced backlash as fans demanded refunds due to his late arrival, erratic behavior, and early departure. The show, billed as Ye’s first full-length concert in nearly a year, was marred by technical issues and minimal stage production, with the rapper performing alone in the rain at Shanghai Stadium. Attendees were left confused and frustrated by West's delayed start, and once he finally did take the stage,  technical issues with the DJ caused Ye to stop and restart multiple songs. Following the rapper’s abrupt early exit, fan shot footage captured the crowd chanting for refunds. Fans paid upwards of $400USD for tickets to the show, and took to Chinese social media to voice their displeasure, with one user saying they had “never seen such a poorly organized concert.” (Consequence of Sound)

Travis Scott and Cactus Jack released the highly-anticipated JACKBOYS 2 compilation album on Sunday (July 13) in honor of ‘713 Day,’ paying homage to the area code of Scott's hometown of Houston. The set serves as a sequel to Scott’s 2019 JACKBOYS project, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Scott hyped the new collection with an Instagram post on Friday, with a promotional image boasting, “The Jack is back with 17 new tracks full of trunk rattling classics in the making. Hosted by Bun B of UGK.” JACKBOYS 2 features Scott alongside hip-hop stars like Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, GloRilla, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Waka Flocka Flame, and more. Scott also offered fans various merchandise collections tied to the release, and CD/vinyl bundles featuring alternate cover art. This continues a busy year for Scott, who headlined Coachella in April, after scoring another No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “4×4” in February. The rap star also made a series of surprise appearances at high-profile WWE events. (Billboard)

During her Cowboy Carter Tour stop in Atlanta on Thursday (July 10), Beyoncé swapped out her flying red convertible stage prop for a gold mechanical horse that she rode above the crowd during her performance of "16 Carriages." This change followed a scary stage malfunction in Houston on June 28 when the red convertible tilted mid-air during the song, leaving the 35-time Grammy winner suspended at an awkward angle while they lowered the car to the floor. Beyoncé previously rode on a silver horse during the Renaissance Tour in 2023, mirroring the album's cover, with the singer also sitting atop a horse on the album cover for Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé continues her Cowboy Carter Tour with the final show of a four-night stand at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday (July 14), with the tour concluding on July 25-26 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (People)

Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem has now spent its first two months at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, after it debuted atop the chart following its release on May 16. Wallen’s three chart-topping albums (I’m the Problem, One Thing at a Time, and Dangerous: The Double Album) have spent a combined total of 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, tying the country superstar with Harry Belafonte and Drake for the fifth-most weeks at No. 1 among solo male artists in chart history, trailing Elvis Presley (67 weeks), Garth Brooks (52), Michael Jackson (51), and Elton John (39).

Other notable moves in this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10 include the KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack hitting a new peak by climbing one spot to No. 2, while Toby Keith’s former chart-topper, 35 Biggest Hits, vaults up 34 places to reach No. 9 due to streaming surges around Independence Day. Elsewhere in the Top 10, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time jumps up three spots to No. 3, SZA’s SOS climbs three slots to No. 4, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet rises four places to No. 5, Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album vaults up five spots to No. 6, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos jumps up nine slots to No. 7, Karol G’s Tropicoqueta falls three places to No. 8, and PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U rises seven spots to No. 10. (Billboard)

Tomorrow X Together have announced that they are bringing their highly-anticipated Act: Tomorrow 2025 World Tour to the U.S. The K-pop boy band will make stops in seven major cities, including the U.S. tour kickoff on September 9 in San Jose, followed by a high-profile stadium stop in Los Angeles, before hitting arenas in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., and finishing with a two-night stand at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on October 1-2. This tour follows their successful run of shows in the U.S. in 2024, and marks their third world tour in as many years, with prior stops scheduled in Europe, China, and Japan. The announcement coincides with the July 21 release of the group’s fourth studio LP, The Star Chapter: Together, which marks the second and final instalment of the band's Star Chapter series. (Rolling Stone)

Kanye West faces new accusations of sexual battery and sex trafficking from his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, who initially sued him in 2024 for wrongful termination and sexual harassment. The amended complaint alleges that West coerced Pisciotta into sexual encounters, made lewd comments, and subjected her to harassment and assault. Pisciotta began working for the rapper in 2021 as an A&R during the making of his album, Donda, and eventually became his personal assistant. She is demanding a trial by jury to seek general, economic, and punitive damages, including past and future lost earnings. Representatives for West have not made a statement about the new accusations, though at the time of Pisciotta’s original lawsuit in 2024, West’s lawyer put out a statement calling her accusations “baseless” while claiming that they planned to countersue. (Variety)

Temple University has unveiled a groundbreaking new course, "Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of M.A.A.D City," to be taught by Professor Timothy Welbeck in Fall 2025. The class will focus on the cultural impact of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, with students giving close listens to Lamar’s Grammy-winning albums, while also receiving guest lectures from his collaborators. “Kendrick Lamar is one of the defining voices of his generation, and in many ways, both his art and life is reflective of the Black experience in many telling ways,” Welbeck says, while revealing that the college was very supportive of his course idea. “My current department chair was very open to the idea and received it almost immediately,” he says. “Our department at Temple has embraced the study of hip-hop in academic spaces.” The course, which begins in August, is now open for enrollment. (Rolling Stone)

Jennifer Hudson is set to headline the Whitney E. Houston Legacy of Love Gala at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta on August 9, on what would have been the late singer's 62nd birthday. The event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Houston's groundbreaking career, with music industry legend Clive Davis serving as honorary chair. Hudson, an EGOT winner, will be joined by R&B artist Meli'sa Morgan, who sang on Houston’s self-titled debut album, along with the foundation’s Cover Song Competition winner Jimmy Vance, and a symphony orchestra previewing the upcoming North American tour of The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration. The gala will honor Houston's legacy while also continuing her mission of supporting children and empowering youth, by offering grants to organizations like Kids in the Spotlight, and awarding scholarships for students attending HBCUs. (Billboard)

Justin Bieber is set to surprise fans with the unexpected release of his long-awaited seventh album, Swag, on Friday (July 11) via Def Jam. The highly-anticipated project, which Bieber put the finishing touches on during a getaway to Iceland in April, will likely feature collaborations with Gunna, Sexyy Red, and Cash Cobain, who recently participated in “jam sessions” with the singer. A series of social media posts that surfaced on Thursday announced the impending arrival of the surprise album, including a billboard in Iceland featuring the possible cover art that includes a black-and-white photo of Bieber alongside the word “SWAG.”

Bieber himself also shared an Instagram post featuring a Times Square billboard displaying the surprise album’s 20-song tracklist. Bieber's dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming release, which marks the 31-year-old pop superstar’s first album since 2021’s chart-topping, Grammy-nominated, Justice. Bieber has since undergone considerable changes in his personal and professional life, including becoming a father and parting ways with longtime manager Scooter Braun. (The Hollywood Reporter)

During a recent appearance on the StageLeft podcast, Olivia Rodrigo's guitarist, Daisy Spencer, revealed that the singer generously paid for free therapy for her crew throughout the Guts Tour, as well as during their time off the road. Spencer expressed gratitude for the accessible and free therapy, emphasizing the impact it had on her mental health and well-being. “I have never had anything like that,” Spencer said. “And that reignited the importance of therapy to me because I had just kind of fallen off for so long, and then suddenly I had this free resource of incredible therapists. Honestly, that was one of the coolest things that has ever happened on tour.” Spencer detailed how Rodrigo's gesture allowed her to regularly access therapy and work through unprocessed trauma from her younger years, describing it as one of the best gifts one can receive. The act reflects a growing trend of artists openly discussing mental health struggles, with Rodrigo being a leading proponent of prioritizing mental well-being. (Billboard)

In a recent appearance on the School of Greatness podcast with his brothers Nick and Joe, Kevin Jonas revealed that he faced financial ruin after losing "almost all" of his money following the split of the Jonas Brothers. Kevin eventually restored his assets due to the group's reunion in 2019, and reflected on his personal journey from financial success to near bankruptcy on the show. “I’ve seen the beginning of the success to financial success — not knowing what money really was and understanding it — to not having [it], to losing almost all of it,” Kevin said, revealing that he lost “most of” his money, “like, down to the one 10 percent left.” Kevin didn’t share specific details of his ordeal, though he said it happened around nine years ago. “I invested in a bunch of property and doing other things and I was building at the time,” he explained. “Sadly, it wasn’t the right partnership.” (Variety) 

The new Netflix competition series, Building the Band, is dedicated to the late Liam Payne, with host AJ McLean honoring the One Direction member in the premiere episode. “When we came together to film ‘Building the Band,’ we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne,” McLean said at the beginning of the episode. “Liam is a guest judge in later episodes, and through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It’s through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.” Payne will appear posthumously as a guest judge in later episodes set to arrive next week, alongside fellow judges Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger. Payne filmed scenes for the show in the summer of 2024, with his last scenes captured in August, before his tragic death in October. The first four episodes of the series are currently available for streaming, with additional episodes set to be released on July 16 and July 23. (Variety)

Ed Sheeran will showcase his Jackson Pollock-inspired paintings in London at the Heni Gallery in Soho, starting on July 10 and running until August 1. The exhibition, titled "Cosmic Carpark Paintings," will raise funds for his Ed Sheeran Foundation, which focuses on providing music education for young people. “So last year in between shows I was doing these paintings,” Sheeran wrote in an Instagram post announcing his exhibition, while adding, “I love painting, more for fun and to give to friends, but this time I was encouraged to do a show of them by @DamienHirst and @Heni.” The musician explains that, “I paint when I’m not working on a record, just to do something creative with my brain,” while admitting, “I am by no means ‘an artist’, but I do love making art, it makes me feel great, and I love the end result.” Sheeran says,”The paintings are for sale if anyone fancies it, and my proceeds from them will all go into the @edsheeranfnd so art will fund art. I like the idea of that.” (Rolling Stone)