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Ella Langley Cancels Oklahoma Concert Hours Before Showtime Citing ‘Serious Security Threat’

Ella Langley Cancels Oklahoma Concert Hours Before Showtime Citing ‘Serious Security Threat’

Melinda Newman (09/10/2026)

The singer posted the note on her socials.

Only a few hours before showtime, Ella Langley has canceled her concert at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s BOK Center on Friday night (Oct. 9) because of “a serious security threat,” according to a statement on the country singer’s Instagram page.

“Due to a serious security threat involving the safety of my fans, venue personnel, and the artist, Ella Langley’s scheduled performance tonight at BOK Center in Tulsa has been canceled,” reads the post that appeared shortly before 5 p.m. CT on Langley’s socials.

“The safety and well-being of everyone involved is our absolute priority, and, after careful consideration, we have determined that the show cannot proceed. We understand the disappointment this news brings and apologize to fans who planned to attend. The safety of our fans is our foremost concern and will always come first,” the message continues. Ticket refund information will be forthcoming.

Langley is in the middle of her Dandelion Tour, in support of her new album that features “Choosin’ Texas,” which has broken the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 at 24.

In addition to the official post, Langley added, “I know how much time, travel, money, and planning goes into coming to a show, and I can’t tell you how sorry I am. This is not a decision that was made lightly. I was so looking forward to spending tonight with you, but your safety will always mean more to me than anything else. I refuse to put anyone in harm’s way.”

As of now, there is no cancellation notice on the venue’s website regarding the concert. A receptionist at the arena told Billboard, “We’re not able to give a comment to the media at this time.” Billboard has reached out to a marketing representative for Oakview Group, which operates the venue, but has not heard back. A rep for Langley had no comment when reached by Billboard.

Langley’s tour continues Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas, as United Supermarkets Arena, before coming to Los Angeles for two shows at the Greek Theater, Oct. 13-14.

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Brandy Heading to Africa to Headline Flytime’s House of R&B Concert for Lagos’ Detty December

Brandy Heading to Africa to Headline Flytime’s House of R&B Concert for Lagos’ Detty December

Michael Saponara (09/10/2026)

The Vocal Bible is headed to Africa.

Brandy is set to headline Flytime’s House of R&B concert in Lagos, Nigeria. The anticipated show will be one of the main events taking over Detty December on Dec. 20.

Taking place at the Eko Convention Centre, the House of R&B concert is slated to kick off a series of performances, which will be followed by Coca-Cola Rhythm Unplugged (Dec. 21), Flytime Fest Powered by Coca-Cola (Dec. 22-24) and Flytime Circle on Dec. 25.

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“Brandy is one of the most influential voices in R&B, and bringing her to the Flytime stage is incredibly special,” said Cecil Hammond, who serves as the founder and chief executive officer of Flytime, in a statement. “We’ve watched Lagos grow into a global destination for music and entertainment over the past two decades, and we’re proud to have played a part in that journey. Brandy represents everything Flytime’s House of R&B celebrates, and she is the perfect artist to open our December season.”

Flytime chief operating officer Keke Hammond added: “Every year, we challenge ourselves to raise the standard of live entertainment in Lagos. This December brings six nights, each with its own identity and experience. Opening with an artist of Brandy’s caliber sets the tone for the performances and hospitality our guests can expect all season.”

Ahead of Flytime’s House of R&B, Brandy has three shows lined up in South Africa. She’ll head to Cape Town for a concert on Dec. 14 before trekking to Pretoria for concerts on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

2026 has been a busy year for The Vocal Bible. Brandy notched collabs with Ty Dolla $ign, Kehlani and Josh Levi, and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Grammy-winning singer also released her New York Times bestselling memoir PHASES.

Find Flytime’s House of R&B concert flyer below.

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ADÉLA Reunites With KATSEYE Members & Owns the Stage at Red Bottoms Tour Stop in LA: Exclusive Photos

ADÉLA Reunites With KATSEYE Members & Owns the Stage at Red Bottoms Tour Stop in LA: Exclusive Photos

Amanda Retotar (09/10/2026)

Megan Skiendiel, Lara Raj and fellow 'Dream Academy' vet Emily Kelavos cheered her on from the audience.

ADÉLA was in prima condition as she conquered the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday night (Oct. 8), delivering yet another magnetic performance while some of her former Dream Academy co-stars looked on proudly — and Billboard has all of the best photos from the night.

In exclusive snaps by Christopher Polk, the Slovak star looks absolutely fierce in her signature bright pink hair and a silver two-piece while carrying out the first of two nights in L.A. on her Red Bottoms Tour, which kicked off in August. A trained ballerina and dancer, ADÉLA is known for packing her shows with impressively high levels of choreography, the motion of which you can see in some of the dynamic snaps.

Billboard also hung out with ADÉLA backstage, where KATSEYE’s Megan Skiendiel and Lara Raj and Saint Satine’s Emily Kelavos — all Dream Academy veterans — posed together for a glam shot. Clips captured by fans at the concert show the trio looking misty-eyed as they watch their friend living her dream in real time.

The show comes amid a whirlwind breakout year for ADÉLA, whose debut album PRIMA dropped in September and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Two of its singles have made it to the Billboard Hot 100 (so far), with “Ain’t in LA” reaching No. 27 while “Nicole Kidman” recently ascended to No. 11.

“I never in my mind doubted that it would happen,” she recently told Billboard of her hard-earned success in 2026. “I don’t know if that’s conceited to say, but … I feel like I have heart, and I have something to say.”

Check out the exclusive photos of ADÉLA on stage and off at the Fonda Theatre on Thursday night below.

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Daisuke Ashihara’s ‘World Trigger’ Vol. 30 Tops Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 as Comics Sweep Top 10

Daisuke Ashihara’s ‘World Trigger’ Vol. 30 Tops Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 as Comics Sweep Top 10

Katie Atkinson (09/10/2026)

Debuting at No. 2 is Vol. 11 of the comic adaptation of the popular light novel Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga.

Daisuke Ashihara’s World Trigger Vol. 30 hits No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Book Hot 100, on the chart released Oct. 8.

In a turnaround from last week, when the extended holiday lifted a number of novels into the upper ranks, comics sweep the top 10 this week. Leading the pack is the new volume of World Trigger, Ashihara’s sci-fi action manga, which tops brick-and-mortar sales and e-books.

Debuting at No. 2 is Vol. 11 of the comic adaptation of the popular light novel Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga. Season 2 of the title’s TV anime is scheduled to air from January 2027. BORUTO -TWO BLUE VORTEX- Vol. 9 follows at No. 3, placing No. 4 in e-books and No. 11 in brick-and-mortar.

Fuyumi Ono’s Yumei no Kishi: Juni Kokuki, falls outside the top 10 to No. 12 after holding the top spot for two consecutive weeks, but places No. 3 in brick-and-mortar. Yu Nagira’s Nanji, Hoshi no Gotoku (You, Like a Star) follows at No. 13, topping both subscriptions and social media. A highly anticipated live-action film adaptation opens Oct. 9 in domestic theaters.

Billboard Japan will hold the first annual awards ceremony for its comprehensive book charts on Nov. 14. Applications for free admission are being accepted through Oct. 18.

The Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 is a comprehensive chart combining physical books, e-books, subscriptions such as library loans, and social media buzz. Below are the top 10 titles on this week’s list, tracking the week from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4.

(Numbers in parentheses indicate the title’s metric placements for brick-and-mortar, EC, e-books, subscriptions, and social media, top 20 only. English title given if translations or adaptations exist.)

1. World Trigger Vol. 30, Daisuke Ashihara (1/–/1/–/–)

2. Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga: Sugu Choso Torikae Den (Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court) Vol. 11 (Comic), Ei Ohitsuji, Satsuki Nakamura, Yuki Kana (5/16/2/–/–)

3. BORUTO -TWO BLUE VORTEX- Vol. 9, Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto (11/–/4/–/–)

4. Kizumono no Hanayome (The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride) Vol. 12 (Manga), Midori Yuma, Mamenosuke Fujimaru (4/19/8/–/–)

5. Madan no Ichi (Ichi the Witch) Vol. 10, Shiro Usazaki, Osamu Nishi (8/–/6/–/–)

6. Nige Jozu no Wakagimi (The Elusive Samurai) Vol. 27, Yusei Matsui (14/–/5/–/–)

7. Ao no Hako (Blue Box) Vol. 27, Koji Miura (7/–/9/–/–)

8. Donketsu Dai 2 Sho Vol. 18, Tashi (–/–/3/–/–)

9. Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) Vol. 36, Yana Toboso (2/11/–/–/–)

10. Akane-banashi Vol. 24, Takamasa Moue, Yuki Suenaga (16/–/7/–/–)

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John Mayer Live at Sphere 2027: Here’s Where to Shop Affordable Tickets Online

John Mayer Live at Sphere 2027: Here’s Where to Shop Affordable Tickets Online

Rudie Obias (09/10/2026)

The singer-songwriter's 18-concert residency in Las Vegas starts on Thursday, April. 8, 2027.

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.

John Mayer is coming to Sin City in April. After announcing a six-show residency at Sphere, the singer-songwriter has added more dates, with 18 concerts in total, as of press time.

With a long list of Las Vegas residencies to choose from, the Sphere offers a visual experience unlike any other stage, and offers a state-of-the-art, multisensory experience that promises to bring John Mayer’s music, which includes from his solo, trio and full band material, to life in unique ways.

Tickets to the residency first went on sale through Live Nation and Ticketmaster, while the retailer’s Face Value Exchange program is an option for fans to resell tickets.

However, many of the dates have either sold out or are very close to selling out, so one of the best ways to find last-minute John Mayer at Sphere tickets online is through third-party sites, such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TicketNetwork, Gametime, Event Tickets Center and others. All online retailers guarantee authentic tickets in time for your concert. Prices may be above or below face value at times.

Where to Find John Mayer 2027 Residency at Sphere Tickets Online

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EDITOR'S PICK

Find John Mayer at Sphere Tickets at StubHub

Top choice for concert tickets in 2026.


StubHub has all-in pricing, so all fees are listed upfront. The site’s “FanProtect Guarantee” ensures that tickets are valid and delivered in time for the concert. If not, you’ll get your money back. In addition, if the concert is canceled and not rescheduled, you’ll receive 120% credit or be offered a full refund without the extra credit. At the time of publishing, John Mayer at Sphere tickets start at $211.

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EARN REWARDS

Find John Mayer at Sphere Tickets at Vivid Seats


Vivid Seats lets you search by type of seat, such as suite, standing room, front of section or the VIP section, while the retailer prioritizes “Super Sellers” who are “experienced, highly rated sellers.” With Vivid Seats, your purchase is protected with the company’s “100% Buyer Guarantee,” which ensures that you receive legitimate tickets in time for your concert or your money back.

Meanwhile, you can save an additional 10% off your first purchase when you sign up for the company’s email list. As a bonus, you can use our exclusive promo code BB30 to take $30 off your first purchase. And as of this publication date, tickets start at $175.

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PROMO CODES

Find John Mayer at Sphere Tickets at SeatGeek


Tickets are delivered digitally via email, so they’re available on your phone before you go through security. And prices are surprisingly reasonable, even for the hottest tickets. For example, SeatGeek has cheap John Mayer at Sphere tickets online from $176. Use our discount code BILLBOARD10 to save an additional $10 at checkout.

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PROMO CODE

Find John Mayer at Sphere Tickets at TicketNetwork


TicketNetwork has ticket packages, which include parking passes, VIP access, meet and greets and other great experiences. It has tickets to John Mayer at Sphere concerts with all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll pay up front (fees included). Tickets start at $244, as of this writing. You can use our exclusive code BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off purchases over $500, or BILLBOARD300 to save $300 off orders of $1000 and up.

And since TicketNetwork is a resale site, the company says that pricing may sometimes be below face value because tickets aren’t held to a specific price point. It guarantees that the tickets you receive are the ones you purchased, and sometimes, even better than expected.

TWICE, World Tour, tickets, K-Pop, girl group, JYP, shop, lightstick

SEATING OPTIONS

Find John Mayer at Sphere Tickets at Gametime


Gametime is a stellar third-party retailer for fans looking for affordable tickets. Tickets for in-demand concerts like John Mayer at Sphere start at $178. It guarantees the lowest prices, event cancellation protection and on-time ticket delivery for a smooth ticket-buying experience.

John Mayer’s 2027 Residency at Sphere Dates

  • Apr. 8, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 10, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 11, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 15, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 17, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 18, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 28, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • Apr. 30, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 1, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 5, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 7, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 8, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 12, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 14, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • May 15, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • June 2, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • June 4, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)
  • June 5, 2027: Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Buy tickets online at StubHub)

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Troye Sivan Shares How He Got Nicole Kidman for ‘She’s the Best’ Video (And What He Thinks of ADÉLA’s Hit)

Troye Sivan Shares How He Got Nicole Kidman for ‘She’s the Best’ Video (And What He Thinks of ADÉLA’s Hit)

Hannah Dailey (09/10/2026)

The star also talks about his favorite "slinky sexy" pop stars, including Addison Rae.

Nicole Kidman has been well loved by pop music in 2026, with both Troye Sivan and ADÉLA paying tribute to her in their projects this year.

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In his Friday (Oct. 9) interview with Billboard, the Aussie singer opened up about why he wanted the Oscar winner to star in his “She’s the Best” music video while shouting out ADÉLA’s hit “Nicole Kidman,” which recently reached a new peak at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I was just listening to, ‘Every single night…,'” Sivan began, singing some of the Slovak star’s lyrics.

“Nicole is — I haven’t spoken to ADÉLA about the song — but I think maybe for the same reason she wrote that song,” he continued. “Nicole represents something, I think, to so many people that is kind of unexplainable. There’s an energy there that’s so captivating. She’s such a good example of the women I’ve been obsessed with my entire life.”

ADÉLA recently shared similar thoughts with Billboard and acknowledged how “wild” it is that Kidman — who’s voiced support for the song named after her — is in her corner. In his conversation with Billboard, Sivan similarly expressed how present and engaged the actress was throughout the production of the “She’s the Best” visual — even though he was convinced that Kidman wouldn’t be able to show up on the day of, given how in-demand she is.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to believe it when we wrap the video,'” he recalled. “It’s Nicole Kidman! Something’s going to come up. Every time my phone would go off, and it was her name, I was like, ‘F–k, here it is.'”

The chat arrives on the same day as Sivan’s new album, She’s the Best, which comes three years after his Billboard 200 No. 20 full-length Something to Give Each Other. One of the project’s cornerstones, he said, is celebrating the women — such as Kidman — whom he’s spent his life admiring.

Sivan added that he made one of the songs, “Canada Dry,” to capture “this specific feeling of pop music that I love, which is, like, slinky sexy.”

“I feel like Addison (Rae) does a really great job of it,” he noted. “Janet (Jackson) is sort of the queen at it, Kylie (Minogue) is amazing at it.”

Madonna gets her flowers on the LP as Sivan samples her Billboard Hot 100 topper “Music” in his single “Party.” He shouted out the Queen of Pop for making it so “easy” to clear the rights to the track. Good thing, too, considering how badly he wanted to include it.

“Before you hear the ‘Music’ sample, there’s this almost vacuum where the track cuts out and cuts to me breathing, as if I’m heaving on a dance floor,” he explained to Billboard. “Then ‘Music’ by Madonna creeps in, and in my head, it’s like I’m on the dance floor closing my eyes, having one of those moments where I feel like I’m ascending. I had this story in my head, and then I got so attached to it, and I was so nervous. But Madonna somehow made it very easy and said yes pretty much right away.”

Sivan also addressed whether he cares about releasing songs that spark polarizing opinions, specifically such as “She’s the Best.” “No, it’s kind of what I want,” he said. “I’ve never really strived for a ‘hit’ in my career — I’ve never really had one, to be honest. I feel like a song like ‘Rush’ changed my life so much more than a song like ‘Youth’ did.

“Coming off the back of a project that was as pop as my last one, I kind of wanted a reclamation of, ‘I still don’t have interest in playing the pop game, really.’ I liked the idea of doing something that was for me.”

Watch Billboard‘s full interview with Sivan above.

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Travis Scott No Longer Facing Lawsuit Over ‘Alright’ Sample on ‘Astroworld’ and ‘Utopia’

Travis Scott No Longer Facing Lawsuit Over ‘Alright’ Sample on ‘Astroworld’ and ‘Utopia’

Rachel Scharf (09/10/2026)

A pair of songwriters dropped their nearly three-year-old copyright infringement case against the star rapper.

Two songwriters have dropped a nearly three-year-old lawsuit that accused Travis Scott of sampling their work without a license on two tracks off his chart-topping albums Astroworld and Utopia.

Dion Norman and Derrick Ordogne, co-writers of the 1992 DJ Jimi song “B—–s Reply,” voluntarily dismissed their legal claims against Scott and Sony Music on Friday (Oct. 9). The court filing, obtained and first reported by Billboard, did not specify whether any settlement was reached to end the lawsuit.

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Norman and Ordogne filed suit at the beginning of 2024 alleging Scott included an uncleared sample from “B—–s Reply” on both “Stargazing” from 2018’s Astroworld and “Til Further Notice” off Utopia in 2023. The tracks, which both reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, each feature a repetition of the word “alright.”

The lawsuit claimed that these repeated “alrights” were lifted from “B—–s Reply”. Other artists have previously credited Norman and Ordogne to sample or interpolate that portion of their song, including Kid Cudi on the 2013 track “Girls”, Cardi B on 2018’s “Bickenhead”, and Diddy on “Need Somebody” in 2023.

Scott and Sony, which both distributes and publishes the star rapper’s music, argued in response that these “alrights” are not copyrightable. Under U.S. law, copyright protection only extends to original works. Attorneys for Scott and Sony said “trite” and “cliched” repetitions of the common “alright” phrase “lack even the minimal creativity” to meet this standard.

An earlier version of Norman and Ordogne’s lawsuit also targeted Metro Boomin and James Blake, who co-wrote “Til Further Notice.” The two producers were dropped from the case earlier in 2026.

Reps for Norman, Ordogne, Scott and Sony did not immediately return requests for comment on the lawsuit’s dismissal Friday.

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Troye Sivan Talks New Album ‘She’s the Best,’ Madonna Sample On ‘Party’ & Nicole Kidman Cameo | Billboard News

Troye Sivan Talks New Album ‘She’s the Best,’ Madonna Sample On ‘Party’ & Nicole Kidman Cameo | Billboard News

Stefanie Tanaka (09/10/2026)

Troye Sivan reveals how Madonna cleared the sample on “Party,” and why that moment became a major creative unlock for the song. He walks us through the writing process, and how the track evolved from early versions into the final club-ready record. Sivan also opens up about the emotional whiplash of his new era, releasing […]

Troye Sivan reveals how Madonna cleared the sample on “Party,” and why that moment became a major creative unlock for the song. He walks us through the writing process, and how the track evolved from early versions into the final club-ready record. Sivan also opens up about the emotional whiplash of his new era, releasing “She’s the Best” and then pivoting into the rush of “Party.” He reveals what he actually measures success by, the cultural conversation he hopes the music and videos spark, and the way he balances bold pop moments with more interior, vulnerable storytelling. Plus, Troye shares what it was like working with Nicole Kidman, breaks down “Cowboy,” “Canada Dry,” “Sex Star,” “Troye Meets World,” “FF” and more!

Troye Sivan 

It’s like my favorite moment in the video, like as I’m kind of diving in. Hi, I’m Troye Sivan and this is Billboard News.

Tetris Kelly 

Party in the bush, party in the Billboard office with Troye Sivan.

Troye Sivan 

Ooh.

Tetris Kelly 

How you doing?

Troye Sivan 

Good. How are you?

Tetris Kelly 

I’m so happy you’re here, man. We got so much to talk about, so let’s jump right into it.

Troye Sivan 

Cool.

Tetris Kelly 

So you dropped “She’s the Best,” immediately followed by “Party.” What has it been like to see the reaction so far online to your new music?

Troye Sivan 

It’s been crazy. I think I, um, I’ve been honestly kind of like pleasantly surprised because I definitely have been like pushing myself I think, and maybe in turn also like pushing people, and I wasn’t really sure how. . . I, you know, I, I know that kind of like when the album arrives, I think everything kind of becomes like clearer and kind of clicks into place. But the sort of journey that I wanted to take people on to get there is definitely like a bit of a rollercoaster. And so going from something like as sensitive as “She’s The Best” into something as like kind of irreverent as “Party,” I, I’ve been very excited [laughs] to kind of like do that, and it’s been, it’s been fun and I’ve been, I’ve been really happy with how it’s all kind of like being received.

Watch the full video above!

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In Canada: Backstreet Boys Set New Touring Record; Vans Warped Tour Not Returning

In Canada: Backstreet Boys Set New Touring Record; Vans Warped Tour Not Returning

Chris Eggertsen (09/10/2026)

Also up north this week: Noise complaints at Toronto's Rogers Stadium are way up — thanks in part to shows by Chris Brown & Usher and Bruno Mars.

Backstreet Boys have set a new touring record in Canada, and passed two major heavyweights to do it.

Earlier this week, the boy band — Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson — who gained notoriety in the ‘90s and 2000s, announced they were heading to Toronto’s Rogers Centre in February 2027 to play a four-night residency at the Toronto stadium — Into the Millennium – Homecoming: Live in Canada.

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Following demand, co-presenters Rogers and Live Nation promptly added another two dates, and just added three more dates, bringing them to a total of nine nights. The Toronto Blue Jays home stadium (not to be confused with Rogers Stadium) can hold up to 55,000 people (though the baseball capacity is now 40,000 after recent renovations), and if all nine shows sell out, that’s almost half a million tickets sold.

The shows are said to be the band’s only North American stadium shows. The tour kicks off on Feb. 12 and will continue through the 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.

“Fans from around the world are excited to see this iconic group live, so we jumped at the opportunity to bring the Backstreet Boys to Canada,” Terrie Tweddle, chief brand and communications officer at Rogers, tells Billboard Canada. “For more than three decades, the Backstreet Boys have built a passionate fan base and sold-out arenas around the world, and we’re excited to create unforgettable opportunities for fans and our customers.”

With nine shows, the band sets a new record for the most concerts played at the major concert venue, one of the biggest in the city. Backstreet Boys surpass both The Weeknd and Taylor Swift, who respectively played six shows at Rogers Centre on their most recent headlining tours.

The Weeknd still holds the record for the most shows played by a Canadian artist at the venue with his After Hours Til Dawn Tour. The trek included two dates in 2022 and four dates in 2025. Swift played three shows over back-to-back weekends in November 2024 on her acclaimed Eras Tour. It was a major event, bringing in an estimated $39.7 million in direct and indirect spending, according to the City of Toronto.

For the Backstreet Boys, it’s a full-circle moment for them to play the Rogers Centre. Back in 1998, the group played one of their first major shows in Toronto at the venue, formerly known as the SkyDome. Almost 30 years later, they’ll be performing at the same venue, playing to even bigger audiences across nine shows.

The shows follow their major success on the Into the Millennium Sphere shows in Las Vegas, which has increased demand for the long-running boy band and paved the way for this milestone. They’re currently on a 10-show stadium residency in Düsseldorf, Germany, where they also made history in the late ’90s. Launching the tour earlier this week, Backstreet Boys recreated their 1999 tour entrance by dropping into the venue on hoverboards.

Read more here. — Heather Taylor-Singh

Vans Warped Tour Will Not Return to Canada in 2027

Vans Warped Tour is skipping Canada in 2027.

The touring punk rock music festival has begun unveiling its cities and dates for the upcoming year, including Washington, D.C. in June and Long Beach, California in July, and Montreal is noticeably missing from the list.

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This year, the festival returned to the Canadian city for the first time in 12 years, teaming up with local promoter Evenko to host the first Canadian edition since 2018. However, the Montreal edition will not return next year

“We have decided to focus on a potential return in 2028,” Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman tells Billboard Canada.

When asked if the festival will potentially come to any other Canadian cities, Lyman says no, the plan is to focus on “the other four shows we do” in the U.S. and Mexico.

Evenko declined to comment to Billboard Canada as Lyman had already shared the news, but confirms that both parties will continue discussions for a possible 2028 Montreal edition.

Vans Warped Tour rounded out Evenko’s stacked festival season at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau, which also hosted Osheaga, ÎLESONIQ and LASSO during back-to-back weekends in August. Warped Tour followed all three festivals, meaning the outdoor venue hosted festivals on four consecutive weekends.

The Montreal 2026 edition welcomed 51,000 festival-goers across its two dates with a bill featuring Jimmy Eat World, All Time Low, and hometown heroes Simple Plan, who played Warped Tour for a 12th time. 

Vans Warped Tour was revived in 2025 to celebrate its 30th anniversary, ending a hiatus that began in 2019. The travelling festival is known for its headliner-free lineups, which are focused on the broader mix of rock, alternative and punk music names spanning different generations.

Read more here. — Stefano Rebuli

Chris Brown & Usher, Bruno Mars Contribute to 40% Uptick in Noise Complaints at Toronto’s Rogers Stadium in 2026

Rogers Stadium was all the noise this year.

The Toronto stadium’s second season saw a higher number of concerts by blockbuster stars, but also a 40% uptick in noise complaints. According to The Toronto Star and CTV News, the Downsview Toronto outdoor venue received a total of 272 noise complaints via phone call between May and September 2026, up from 192 complaints logged in 2025.

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Bruno Mars‘ season-opening Romantic tour show (May 31) and Chris Brown & Usher‘s second night of their R&B tour (Aug. 12) contributed to over 30% of complaints, with the latter receiving 60 calls and Mars receiving 50, according to the report. While the R&B stars played two shows as part of their joint trek, Mars played a record-setting total of five nights at Rogers Stadium, the most by an artist in the venue’s two-year history.

In addition to the original sound-proofing that was installed around the venue in 2025, the stadium added vinyl cladding this year to try to control the noise, although its effectiveness has waned during concerts with more booming sound. “It is quite good when it comes to acoustic or a regular guitar, but when it’s a heavy bass, it doesn’t work as well,” Toronto city councillor James Pasternak tells CTV.

Since opening in 2025, the venue and the city of Toronto have been in an ongoing back-and-forth in terms of compliance requests and implementing adjustments. In June, Pasternak filed a motion for Live Nation to pay for sound monitoring across the venue, with the goal of lowering sound emissions past the venue. While Live Nation said that all of its concerts were below the maximum decibel level, the allowed level has still been disruptive for surrounding residents.

The vinyl cladding was destroyed along with some of Rogers Stadium’s seating structures, which collapsed following a “100-year storm” that swept through Toronto at the beginning of September. The damage sustained by the 50,000-capacity venue put an early end to the 2026 concert season, as AC/DC’s Toronto show was subsequently cancelled. The cladding is included in the required repairs, which began earlier this week on Oct. 1.

Five shows have been announced for 2027 so far, with four nights by Harry Styles in May and a Slipknot show on July 23.

Read more here. — S.R.

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From Ashes to New Score Second Straight Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With ‘Die for You’

From Ashes to New Score Second Straight Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With ‘Die for You’

Xander Zellner (09/10/2026)

The band joins Shinedown and Three Days Grace as the only acts with multiple leaders in 2026.

From Ashes to New returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart (dated Oct. 17) with “Die for You.”

Released in March via Better Noise Music, the track reaches the summit with a 7% increase in plays at the format during the Oct. 2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate.

“Die for You” earns the Pennsylvania rockers their second career radio No. 1, after “Drag Me” led Mainstream Rock Airplay in May. The band first appeared on the chart in 2016 via “Through It All,” which rose to No. 6. “Die for You” is the band’s eighth top 10.

From Ashes to New is the third act to notch multiple No. 1s on Mainstream Rock Airplay in 2026, joining Shinedown (three) and Three Days Grace (two).

“Die for You” is the fourth single off From Ashes to New’s fifth studio album, Reflections, released in April.

The No. 1 also gives Better Noise its fourth No. 1 of 2026, following the Funeral Portrait’s “Dark Thoughts” in January, “Drag Me” and Five Finger Death Punch’s “Eye of the Storm” in July. The label ties BMG for the most leaders so far this year.

Better Noise led all labels in Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s in both 2025 (with five) and 2024 (four).

The label has now earned 24 No. 1s this decade, extending its lead among all labels. Concord has the second-most, with 18, followed by RCA (14), Warner (13), Republic (11), Atlantic and BMG (10 each).

All of Billboard’s charts dated Oct. 17 will update Tuesday, Oct. 13, on Billboard.com.

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