Billboard News

Cardi B brought daughters Kulture and Blossom to KATSEYE’s New York concert on Saturday night (Oct. 24), continuing a run of very public support for the six-member girl group.

The rapper was spotted dancing with two-year-old Blossom from what appeared to be a VIP suite during the show, while Cardi later shared footage to her Instagram Story showing her daughters and their friends after the concert.

Cardi’s KATSEYE fandom has been building for months. Earlier this year, she went viral after footage showed her enthusiastically lip-syncing to “Gabriela” during the group’s Governors Ball performance in New York, prompting fans to jokingly dub her KATSEYE’s unofficial seventh member.

She doubled down on that support in August when “Hootie Frutti” drew criticism online following its release.

“Y’all hating on the song,” Cardi said during an Instagram Live at the time. “But me, Kulture, and Amor, we love this song. And Blossom love it.”

The latest concert outing comes during a major year for KATSEYE.

Released Aug. 14 via HYBE x Geffen Records, WILD followed the group’s 2025 EP BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The project also included “Gabriela,” which became one of KATSEYE’s six entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 21 on the chart earlier this year.

The group continued its chart rise with WILD, which produced additional Hot 100 hits including “PINKY UP” and “Animal.” “Animal” debuted at No. 24 on the Hot 100 and also gave KATSEYE their first top 10 on the Billboard Global 200, where it debuted at No. 10.

KATSEYE launched their Wildworld Tour in Dublin on Sept. 1, with the arena run taking the group through Europe and North America.

The overlap has extended beyond music, too. Gap Inc. is set to receive the CFDA’s Innovation Award in November, with the company highlighting both KATSEYE’s Better in Denim campaign and Old Navy’s fall denim campaign starring Cardi B among its recent fashion projects.

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 the middle of the NFL action during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints game in Paris, global Afro-fusion star Burna Boy is set to perform at halftime. This is the first NFL regular game played in France in the league’s history.

After nearly 20 years of gameplay, the NFL has been growing American Football around the world with regular season games played in international cities, such as London, Rio, Mexico City, Melbourne, Berlin, Dublin and others.

For the week seven matchup, two prime NFL teams, the Steelers and Saints, play against each other for domination on the field. Meanwhile, there might be one or two celebrity sightings during the game too.

How to Watch NFL Paris Game 2026 Live Online, at a Glance:

When Does the NFL Paris Game 2026 Start?

The NFL Paris Game happens on Sunday (Oct. 25) with a matchup featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) taking on the New Orleans Saints (2-4) at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, with a start time of 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT (3:30 p.m. CEST).

What TV Network Features the NFL Paris Game 2026?

The Steelers-Saints game broadcasts on NFL Network, while the NFL game is available to livestream on ESPN Unlimited.

Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During the NFL Paris Game 2026?

NFL games are known for celebrity sightings, so it’s likely there may be a number of famous actors, actresses and recording artists in attendance. Artists have been known to appear at games in the past, include French NFL fans Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Dupont, DJ Snake, Omar Sy and others.

Nigerian Afro-fusion singer-songwriter and Grammy Award-winner Burna Boy, who captured a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Dai Dai” (FIFA World Cup Official Song 2026) with Shakira this past summer, performs at halftime.

Plus, French pop and R&B singer-songwriter Yseult is also scheduled to perform. The halftime show starts around 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT (5 p.m. CEST).

Where to Watch the NFL Paris Game 2026 Live Online for Free

For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch the NFL Paris Game if you don’t have cable, especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services, such as Fubo and Hulu + Live TV, offer free trials, so you can watch the Steelers vs. Saints for free.

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On Sunday (Oct. 25), the NFL Paris Game 2026: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints broadcasts on NFL Network. One of the best ways to watch the game live is with DirecTV.

Macklemore returned to the stage Thursday night (Oct. 22) with a message that made clear he has no plans to retreat from the stance that preceded his removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour.

During a 17-song set at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the rapper paused the show to address the crowd, calling for a “free Palestine” while also speaking about Sudan, Congo, Lebanon, Haiti, and people affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Being a human being in this moment is not complicated,” Macklemore said, according to footage from the concert. “It is not political. It is human to have a heart, to watch others suffering and to say, ‘Not anymore!’ So I say, free Palestine. I say, free Palestine!”

He continued: “I say, free Sudan. I say, free Congo, Lebanon, to Haiti, to all the people that are affected by ICE in America, who are afraid to leave their houses.”

“The message will always be love,” he concluded.

The Red Rocks appearance marked Macklemore’s first concert since a turbulent run opening for Sheeran’s Loop Tour in September.

During two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore called for Palestinian freedom from the stage and performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall” alongside imagery from Gaza. The performances prompted criticism from groups including the Israeli-American Council and ultimately led to his removal from the remaining dates.

Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said at the time that venues on the upcoming U.S. run had informed organizers they would not host the concerts with Macklemore on the lineup. Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, later confirmed that he had barred Macklemore from appearing at the Massachusetts venue, citing rhetoric and imagery that Kraft said had been offensive and hurtful to members of the Jewish community.

Sheeran subsequently stressed that the decision to remove Macklemore was not his, writing that it had been made by the promoter and venues. “I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” Sheeran said at the time, while adding that his own approach was to “maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed.”

Macklemore responded by pledging the $1 million he earned from his stint on the tour to organizations providing aid to Palestinians. Kraft later announced a $2 million contribution to humanitarian aid in the region.

The fallout also reshaped the remainder of Sheeran’s tour, with opening acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, as well as Sheeran’s backing band Beoga, subsequently withdrawing from scheduled appearances.

Macklemore has since organized his own Free Palestine Tour, with sold-out shows scheduled for Dublin on Oct. 26, Paris on Oct. 29 and London on Oct. 30. Proceeds from the concerts are set to benefit a number of organizations supporting Palestinians, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

The controversy also drove a noticeable spike in Macklemore’s streaming numbers.

According to early data from Luminate reported by Billboard, official on-demand U.S. streams of Macklemore’s solo catalog climbed from 282,000 on Sept. 13 to 767,000 two days later — a 172% increase. His total catalog, including his work with Ryan Lewis, nearly doubled over the same period, rising 97% from just over 1 million streams to nearly 2 million.

The biggest jump came for “Hind’s Hall.” The protest track surged from just over 5,000 U.S. streams on Sept. 13 to nearly 87,000 on Sept. 15, its biggest daily total in more than two years.

Macklemore’s solo Billboard Hot 100 history includes “Good Old Days,” featuring Kesha, “Glorious,” featuring Skylar Grey, and “Summer Days,” with Martin Garrix and Patrick Stump.

Drake is 40 years old. For his Oct. 24 birthday, he paid tribute to his younger self on social media with a sweet, personal glimpse at who he was as a kid.

“I accept you for you,” he wrote to himself on Instagram.

There, he posted childhood pictures of himself on the eve before turning 40.

In one snapshot, he’s seen sitting on the hood of a car hugging his copy of the book My Teacher Fried My Brains.

One-upping most 40th birthday parties, Drake entered his 40s by sharing the stage with the Backstreet Boys to feature on one of his all-time favorite pop hits, “I Want It That Way.”

The “I Want It That Way” superfan basked in the joy of the stepping in as a bonus Backstreet Boy Friday night (Oct. 23), unabashedly joining on vocals throughout the 1999 single, one of BSB’s top five hits; the track peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year, and was inescapable on Top 40 radio and MTV’s TRL countdown. Drake was 13 years old in 1999.

BSB’s Howie Dorough worked in a line from Drake’s own “Hold On, We’re Going Home” at the bridge. Besides Howie, bandmates Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McClean and Kevin Richardson all showed up for the surprise birthday performance. The birthday party was reportedly hosted at New York City members-only club Casa Cipriani.

Drake wrapped up the ballad, taking on the vocal outro. Watch him croon one of his favorite songs in a video shared on X.

“Tonight isn’t about a tour, an album release, or a bunch of videos we shot,” Drake said to party guests Saturday night. “It’s about being alive, staying alive.”

He once said that something about “I Want It That Way” made him feel like he was acknowledged for the first time, and felt like he had a shot at being cool for the first time. According to Drake, the Millennium track’s “one of the greatest songs of all time.”

Though Jay-Z‘s list of guests joining him on stage at his SoFi Stadium kickoff wasn’t as crazy-huge as the one for his Yankee Stadium run, surprise appearances still helped make the show shine in his much-anticipated tour return to Los Angeles on Friday (Oct. 23).

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Maluma Opens Up About Therapy and Finding Balance at Billboard Latin Music Week & More Uplifting Moments

His two-night engagement at SoFi is part of JAY-Z30, the celebration of it being 30 years since the release of his classic debut album Reasonable Doubt.

Jay’s daughter Blue Ivy was in the house, plus Scarface, DJ Khaled and John Legend.

Blue Ivy was on the keys for “The Story of O.J.” (from 4:44) and “Dead Presidents” (Reasonable Doubt) on the 33-song setlist.

Scarface took the stage with Jay on “This Can’t Be Life” (The Dynasty: Roc La Familia) and the Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” (We Can’t Be Stopped).

It all came to a close with “God Did” (from DJ Khaled’s album of the same name), featuring both DJ Khaled and John Legend onstage with the Brooklyn rap legend.

Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, G-Eazy, Tia Mowry, and Omari Hardwick were among the familiar faces in attendance Friday night. Jay-Z’s back on the stage for night two on Saturday.

Chatter swirled earlier in the week over the rumor that Jay-Z will recommend himself as the headlining performer for the Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show next year, which also takes place at SoFi Stadium. If he does headline halftime at the big game, it’ll be his first time on the Super Bowl stage in a career that’s spanned more than 30 years. As of Saturday afternoon, the speculation remains unconfirmed.

His concert weekend in L.A. follows a star-studded trio of shows in New York City in July — where he welcomed Beyonce, Rihanna, Emimem, Alicia Keys, Nas and more to the stage — and shows in Paris and London. In September, he released his JAY-Z in 8 docuseries with Rick Rubin on HBO Max.

The owners of Elvis Presley‘s music have launched a legal war over artificial intelligence, suing AI giant Anthropic over accusations that it trained its models on hundreds of the legendary artist’s song without permission.

The new lawsuit, filed Friday (Oct. 23) and first reported by Billboard, claims that Anthropic, the tech behemoth behind Claude, infringed 274 of the rock legend’s copyrighted songs, including famed hits like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “A Little Less Conversation” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”

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“The Elvis Plaintiffs bring this action to enforce these exclusive rights against the defendant that has built its entire business model based on copyright infringement at a scale never seen before,” writes Richard Busch, the lead attorney behind the lawsuit. “The Elvis Plaintiffs are deeply protective of these iconic songs.”

Though music companies like Universal Music Group have already repeatedly sued AI companies for stealing their IP, the new lawsuits represents by far the most high-profile legal action filed on behalf of an individual musician — in this case, arguably the most famous recording artist of all time.

The case was filed by a unit of Authentic Brands Group, the licensing giant that largely controls the intellectual property rights to Elvis, including much of his song catalog, his brand trademarks and the rights to his name, image and likeness. It was co-filed by various other entities that own Elvis rights.

Like other AI firms, Anthropic is already facing numerous lawsuits over the process of “training” their models to create new ones, which involves ingesting millions of existing works without permission. AI companies say that process is protected by copyright’s fair use defense, but that issue remains pending across dozens of lawsuits — with billions of dollars in potential damages at stake.

Litigation over AI music has centered more on Suno, the leading AI song generator, which was sued in 2024 by all three major music companies over such training accusations. It eventually settled with Warner Music Group last year and has vowed to partner with the music industry, but is still facing contentious litigation from UMG and Sony Music. Anthropic, a far larger AI firm, has faced similar cases across creative industries, including from music publishers.

The new case Friday largely mirrors those earlier cases, claiming Anthropic illegally used music en masse to create technology that produces “unlicensed derivative works.” But it centers on what the Elvis plaintiffs call “some of the most groundbreaking, revolutionary, influential, and enduring musical compositions in human history.”

That includes “Can’t Help,” arguably Presley’s most famous song, “Don’t Be Cruel,” one of his early massive hits, and “Little Less,” which saw a resurgence in popularity due to a 2000s remix. The lawsuit also cites “All Shook Up,” “Return to Sender” and “(You’re The) Devil in Disguise”.

A rep for Anthropic did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday.

Busch is no stranger to high-profile music cases. He represented Eminem in landmark cases in the 2000s over digital downloads, and later represented Marvin Gaye’s estate in a famous copyright case against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams, eventually winning a much-debated verdict that their “Blurred Lines” infringed Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up.”

From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

Maluma on Mental Health, Fatherhood and Learning to “Love Discomfort”

Maluma spoke candidly about therapy, anxiety, fatherhood and the challenge of balancing family life with a demanding career during the “Like Minded” conversation at Billboard Latin Music Week on Wednesday (Oct. 21). Moderated by Billboard’s co-chief content officer Leila Cobo, the BetterHelp-presented session also featured bilingual therapist Patricia Arrieta.

The conversation came shortly after the birth of Maluma’s second child, Orion, whom he said has brought him a new sense of calm and clarity. “I’ve finally been able to find that balance between my personal life and my artistic career,” he said. The Colombian star described therapy as an ongoing practice rather than a quick fix. “For me, therapy is being quiet, it is meditation, it’s constantly feeling uncomfortable and learning to love that discomfort,” he said.

Maluma acknowledged that he still experiences anxiety while managing his responsibilities as a father, artist, entrepreneur and leader of a large team. After undergoing a tension headache during an especially demanding week, he used ChatGPT to help organize his schedule and prioritize his well-being. “I started prioritizing my peace, lowering my burdens and stress,” he said. “I need at least four hours in the afternoon to spend with my family.”

He also spoke about moving away from extreme approaches to fitness and developing a healthier relationship with food and his body. “If you love yourself, you make good decisions,” he said. “My health is not negotiable.”

Reflecting on his latest album, Loco por Volver, Maluma said the project became part of his personal transformation. “It was the album that gave me back so many things I had lost,” he said. “The music transformed me.”

“Help is closer than we think,” he added.

Pablo Alborán & RIZA Turn a Latin Music Week Collab Into a Finished Song at Billboard Latin Music Awards

What began as a live songwriting experiment at last year’s Billboard Latin Music Week became a finished release — and then a Billboard Latin Music Awards performance on Thursday (Oct. 22). Pablo Alborán and RIZA delivered “Deditos Cruzados,” the dreamy collaboration they created during last year’s “Making the Hit, Live!” panel with producer Julio Reyes Copello and engineer Natalia Schlesinger.

Released Oct. 1, the song blends soulful vocals, Middle Eastern-tinged rhythms and lyrics about longing. Onstage, the pair performed from a warm, living room-inspired set, turning a creative experiment born in front of an audience into a full-circle musical moment. Check out “Deditos Cruzados” live below.

Nanpa Básico and Nella Bring Hope During Billboard Latin Music Awards After Colombia and Venezuela Earthquakes

Colombian artist Nanpa Básico and Venezuelan singer Nella delivered a moving rendition of “Todo Cambia,” the classic written by Julio Numhauser and famously popularized by Mercedes Sosa. Their Billboard Latin Music Awards performance on Thursday (Oct. 22) acknowledged the devastation caused by earthquakes that hit their home countries. Images of shattered buildings and concrete paved way to green plants emerging from the rubble. Nella sang beside the wreckage in a flowing brown gown, while Nanpa brought a cowboy-inspired touch to the bittersweet duet. By the end, the stage had transformed into a portrait of renewal — a reminder that, even after tragedy, something hopeful can grow. See their performance below.

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.

After UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, the UFC heads to the UAE for UFC 333. Two prime fighters face off in the championship main event, as Australian fighter Alexander Volkanovski (28-4-0) defends his featherweight title against Russian Movsar Evloev (20-0-0).

And in the co-main event, Russian Petr Yan (20-5-0) takes on Georgian Merab Dvalishvili (21-5-0) for Yan’s bantamweight championship in a title bout.

On Saturday (Oct. 24), UFC 333 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a start time of 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.

How to Watch UFC 333 Live Online, at a Glance:

What Is the Main Event’s Walkout Music for UFC 333?

Although the UFC has yet to announce each fighter’s walkout songs for UFC 333, they usually go out to the octagon to the same songs during their matches. Volkanovski has walked out to “Down Under” by Men at Work, while Movsar Evloev prefers to walk out to “Melodies of the Mountain” by Sulambek Mamilov.

As for Yan, he typically walks out to “Stem for the Belt” by Noggano and Dvalishvili usually walks out to “Homeland” by Bani.

How to Watch UFC 333 Live Online

Every UFC event is available to livestream on Paramount+ for subscribers for free. There’s no more pay-per-view fees to watch UFC events. You just need a subscription to Paramount+.

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The Paramount+ Essential Plan, which gives you access to tons of TV shows and movies with limited commercials, increased a dollar to $8.99 per month (or $89.99 per year). The ad-free plan got a small price bump as well to $12.99 per month (or $129.99 per year), but it now includes Showtime, along with everything in the Essential Plan and access to your local CBS station.

After the free trial ends, your plan will automatically renew at the regular rate, but you can cancel any time. Check out entire UFC 333 fight card below:

Main Card, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT

Prelims, 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT

Early Prelims, 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT

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Drake rang in his 40th birthday with more than 400 guests, million-dollar prizes and a surprise performance from the Backstreet Boys — one day after adding another record to his already historic résumé.

The Toronto superstar celebrated at New York’s Casa Cipriani on Friday night (Oct. 23), hours before officially turning 40 on Oct. 24. According to TMZ, guests were treated to luxury giveaways including Chanel and Hermès handbags, while a game show held during the party offered cash prizes ranging from tens of thousands of dollars up to $1 million.

The night’s biggest musical surprise came courtesy of the Backstreet Boys, who performed for the crowd before Drake joined them onstage for their 1999 hit “I Want It That Way.”

Amid the spectacle, Drake took a moment to reflect on the milestone.

“Tonight isn’t about a tour, an album release, or a bunch of videos we shot,” he told the room. “It’s about being alive, staying alive.”

The New York celebration capped several days of birthday festivities that began back home in Toronto. Earlier in the week, Drake gathered with friends at the CN Tower, where he was surprised with a collage of photos and memories. Popcaan was among those in attendance.

Drake later traveled to New York with his mother and members of his entourage aboard Air Drake, his customized Boeing 767, and was spotted dining at SoHo restaurant Mamo on Thursday night (Oct. 22).

The Backstreet Boys appearance also carried some history. In July 2022, the group brought Drake onstage during their DNA World Tour stop at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage and introduced him as their “sixth member” before performing “I Want It That Way.”

Drake told the crowd that night that the song had soundtracked a formative memory at his bar mitzvah, when a girl he liked approached him and asked him to dance.

“That was the first time I ever felt acknowledged, and the first time I ever felt like I had a shot at being cool,” he recalled, before calling the track “one of the greatest songs of all time.” He joined the group for the performance, even weaving portions of his own “Hold On, We’re Going Home” into the Backstreet Boys classic. Four years later, the song returned as the soundtrack to another milestone.

Drake’s 40th birthday arrived alongside another major career milestone. On Friday (Oct. 23), the Recording Industry Association of America awarded him 30 new certifications, making him the first artist to surpass 350 million RIAA-certified units.

Views, “In My Feelings” and “Marvin’s Room” were all newly certified Diamond, while “God’s Plan” reached 2x Diamond status. His latest album, Iceman, also went platinum just five months after its May release. Drake now holds 18 Diamond plaques, extending his record for the most of any artist.