Pras Michel, co-founding member of the Fugees, received a 14-year prison sentence for participating in a billion-dollar Malaysian money laundering scheme. The 53-year-old was convicted in April 2023 on 10 federal charges including campaign finance violations, money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and lying to banks. Michel must also serve three years probation and forfeit over $64 million . The case involved fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, who allegedly embezzled $4.5 billion from Malaysian fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Prosecutors said Michel worked for Low, funneling millions into Barack Obama's 2012 campaign through straw donors and lobbying Donald Trump's administration to stop a DOJ investigation. Michel rejected a plea deal that would have limited his prison time to 16 months. (Story URL)

The Chainsmokers have extended their Las Vegas residency at Wynn Nightlife’s XS Nightclub and Encore Beach Club through 2029, continuing a partnership that began in 2017. “Performing at Wynn these past few years has been such an incredible experience,” the electronic duo, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, said in a joint statement. “Wynn continues to deliver the best experience across Vegas, and that’s the experience we want to keep bringing to our fans! We’re so thankful to everyone who has been part of this journey, and we can’t wait to keep it going.” Wynn Nightlife’s VP Ryan Jones added, “The Chainsmokers are more than just partners, they are a part of the Wynn Nightlife family. Over the years, we’ve created unforgettable experiences together, and this extension reflects this relationship and our commitment to continued success.” The Chainsmokers’ next Vegas performance is scheduled for Friday (November 21) at XS as part of the F1 Weekend festivities. (Billboard)

During a new interview on CBS Mornings that aired on Thursday (November 20), Lily Allen revealed that writing her new album, West End Girl, which chronicles her divorce from Stranger Things actor David Harbour, as an "act of desperation." She credits making her new batch of songs as being a crucial part of her healing process after a tumultuous 2024 marked by mental health struggles and the end of her marriage. “Since I’ve put it out, it’s felt completely and utterly liberating,” Allen told Anthony Mason. “It said everything that I needed to say. And I felt like I couldn’t really get on with my life until I’d said it.” Recorded in just 10 days, the deeply personal 14-track LP captures the pain and betrayal she felt during the breakup, including issues around the former couple's open relationship. Now in a better place, Allen is preparing for a sold-out 2026 UK arena tour with plans to eventually add North American dates. (Billboard)

Charli XCX stars as a pop star resembling herself in the new trailer for A24’s upcoming film, The Moment, which is directed by Aidan Zamiri and is set to open in theaters on January 26, 2026. The scripted drama follows a rising artist grappling with the pressures of stardom before her first arena tour. “When I felt like people started to care about me, nothing else mattered,” Charli says in the trailer. “Nothing was more important than Brat.” The film stars Alexander Skarsgard, Rosanna Arquette, Trew Mullen, Isaac Cole Powell, and Kate Berlant, along with high-profile guest appearances by Kylie Jenner and Rachel Sennott. Charli and David Hinojosa are producing the project, which is based on an original concept by the Grammy-winning pop superstar. Charli describes the movie as “a 2024 period piece,” while clarifying that, “It’s not a tour documentary or a concert film in any way, but the seed of the idea was conceived from this idea of being pressured to make one.” (Hollywood Reporter) 

Hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash will chronicle his influential career and the genre's origins in his upcoming memoir, Birth of a Culture, which is set for release in fall 2026 by HarperCollins’ Amistad imprint. Co-written with journalist Robert “Scoop” Jackson and personally narrated by Flash for the audiobook, the book offers a fresh perspective distinct from the DJ’s 2008 memoir, The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats, by focusing on hip-hop’s cultural history and featuring interviews with key figures who shaped the movement. “This story has been on my mind for a very long time,” Flash said in a statement. “It depicts the early history and many subject matters that pertain to the culture called hip-hop. I talk about my come-up, I express my thoughts and opinions with others. I reminisced about what it was and what it has become. It entails joy, pain, real life, fun, drama, math, and science.” (Rolling Stone)

The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour has become the highest-grossing solo male tour ever, surpassing $1 billion in revenue and selling over 7.5 million tickets since it began in 2022, with live shows stretching across North America (twice), Europe, Latin America, and Australia. The $1 billion milestone was surpassed after The Weeknd sold-out upcoming 2026 dates in Mexico, Brazil, Europe, and the U.K., with the tour resuming with a three-night stand in Mexico City on April 20. “The Weeknd continues to redefine what it means to be a global touring artist,” said Omar Al-joulani, Live Nation’s president of touring. “Crossing the billion-dollar mark is a testament to his staying power and the incredible demand for his live show. The ‘After Hours ‘Til Dawn’ Tour now stands as one of the biggest of all time — a true reflection of his artistry and impact.” Additionally, The Weeknd is donating portions of ticket sales to global advocacy groups, including Global Citizen and the United Nations World Food Programme. (Rolling Stone)

An obscure remix of Was (Not Was)’s 1983 track, “Shake Your Head,” features a rare duet between Ozzy Osbourne and a pre-fame Madonna, whose vocals were initially recorded but then withheld from the official release, replaced by Kim Basinger’s instead. Ozzy’s son Louis Osbourne (from the metal legend’s first wife, Thelma Riley), revealed on his half-brother Jack Osbourne’s Trying Not to Die podcast that Madonna’s approval was never granted for the original release, leading to Basinger’s version being used. Years later, producer Don Was discovered Ozzy and Madonna’s vocal tracks and created a remix blending their voices for a 1992 compilation, Now Dance 92. The track was uploaded to YouTube years ago, though the duet’s existence gained wider attention after Was’ recent comments to Rolling Stone. “We realized about eight years later that we had Ozzy and Madonna on parallel tracks, so we gave it to a remixer, and he turned it into a Ozzy/Madonna duet,” recalled Was. (Consequence of Sound)

Rosalía’s newly released fourth studio album, LUX, makes history by debuting at No. 1 simultaneously on five Billboard charts – Top Latin Albums, Top Latin Pop Albums, Classical Albums, Classical Crossover, and World Albums – marking her first time topping the Latin Albums chart and achieving a Top 10 placement (No. 4) on the all-genre Billboard 200. With 46,000 equivalent album units in its first week, including 34.1 million U.S. streams, LUX also established Rosalía as the first Spanish-born woman to top the Classical and Classical Crossover charts in the modern era, and the first Spanish-speaking solo woman to lead the World Albums chart. Additionally, she set a new record for a Latin pop act by placing 11 songs simultaneously on the Hot Latin Songs chart, highlighted by two Top 10 hits, “La Perla” (No. 3) and “Reliquia” (No. 10), which marks her ninth career Top 10 hits on the tally. (Billboard)

The U.K. government is set to ban reselling concert tickets above face value following pressure from artists including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, the Cure, Radiohead, and Sam Fender, who signed an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging action against ticket touting. The musicians asked government officials to take action to “restore faith in the ticketing system” and “help democratize public access to the arts.” Under the proposed plan, resale of tickets for live music, theater, comedy and sports events will be allowed only up to the original purchase price with minimal extra fees, aiming to reduce ticket costs by an average of £37 ($48) and save fans £112 million ($137 million) annually. Resale platforms will be legally required to enforce these rules, addressing widespread ticket price inflation seen at major events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Oasis’ reunion shows, which even prompted a government investigation into Ticketmaster’s consumer practices. (Variety)

Eminem has filed a petition to cancel the trademark of Australian beach brand Swim Shady, citing a "likelihood of confusion" that could cause "damage and injury" by falsely suggesting an association with his music brand. The Sydney-based company, which sells beach products, faces allegations of infringing Eminem’s Australian trademarks, including those for Shady and Shady Limited. Swim Shady’s founders, Scott and Elizabeth Afrakoff, have vowed to defend their intellectual property, while emphasizing that, “Swim Shady is a grassroots Australian company that was born to protect people from the harsh Australian sun.” Legal disputes between Eminem’s team and Swim Shady continue in both the U.S. and Australia, with the company also filing non-use claims against Eminem’s trademarks there, while the rapper’s current petition was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office back in September. (People)

The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 27 will feature a series of hip-hop and R&B stars including Busta Rhymes, who will appear on Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float, and Lil Jon, making his parade debut on the Toys R Us float. Teyana Taylor will also be making her Macy’s parade debut on Peacock’s Birds of a Feather float, while returning performers Ciara and Kool & the Gang will perform on floats sponsored by Kalahari Resorts and the Bronx Zoo, respectively. The performance lineup includes 26 acts in total, highlighted by reggae artist Shaggy, R&B legend Darlene Love, alongside Calum Scott, Colbie Caillat, Debbie Gibson, Foreigner, Jewel, Lauren Spencer Smith, Matteo Bocelli, Meg Donnelly, Mickey Guyton, and Taylor Momsen, who will all take part in the diverse Thanksgiving Day musical celebration. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (November 17), Tate McRae took to Instagram to reveal the full 21-song tracklist for the deluxe edition of So Close to What???. The expanded version of McRae’s recent Billboard No. 1 album is set to be released on Friday (Nov. 21), and will feature the addition of five new songs: her recent Hot 100 Top 5 hit “Tit for Tat,” along with “Trying on Shoes,” “Anything but Love,” “Nobody’s Girl,” and “Horseshoe.” The announcement also includes what appears to be the new cover art for the deluxe edition, with McRae captioning her post, “deluxe track list 🪽🪽🪽 friday.” The release follows McRae receiving her very first Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording for “Just Keep Watching,” from the movie F1. McRae also recently concluded her extensive 81-city Miss Possessive Tour, which started in March and wrapped in Los Angeles on November 7. (Rolling Stone)

In a conversation with Amy Poehler on a new episode of the Good Hang podcast, Ariana Grande announced that her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour will likely be her final run of shows for the foreseeable future. “The last 10 or 15 years will look very different to the ones that are coming up,” she revealed. “I don’t want to say anything definitive. I do know that I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long, long time. I’m going to give it my all and it’s going to be beautiful. I think that’s why I’m doing it because I’m like, ‘One last hurrah!'” Grande’s 2026 tour kicks off on June 6, in Oakland, with multiple nights in Los Angeles, Austin, TX, Sunrise, FL, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Boston, Montreal, and Chicago, before wrapping up with an epic 10-night stand at London’s 02 Arena that concludes on September 1. (Rolling Stone)

Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, and Andrew Garfield were honored with Gold Anthem Awards at the 5th annual Anthem Awards, recognizing their impactful work with PLUS1, Rare Beauty, and Sesame Workshop, respectively. Presented by the Webby Awards, the Anthem Awards recognizes social impact leaders who spark positive change around the world. The ceremony also celebrated the work of other notable figures, including Katie Couric, Lauren & Seth Rogen, Lilly Singh, Google, GLAAD, and Make-A-Wish America. Special achievement awards were given to advocate Paris Hilton, athlete Frances Tiafoe, impact creator Brooke Eby, philanthropists Tim Gill and Scott Miller, and vision award recipient Vincent Stanley, alongside organizations such as Dept, Google, and AARP. Selected from over 2,000 submissions across 42 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, the awards highlight collective action for lasting social impact. (Variety)

Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" continues its dominant run atop the Billboard Hot 100, holding the No. 1 spot for a sixth consecutive week, and joining her previous hits "Anti-Hero" (eight weeks) and "Blank Space" (seven) as her only singles to lead for six or more weeks. Swift now has two singles that have both ruled the Hot 100 for their first six weeks of release – "The Fate of Ophelia" and "Anti-Hero" – an achievement matched only by Mariah Carey, who accomplished the feat in 1995 with her No. 1 hits “Fantasy” and “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men. Concurrently, Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl spends its sixth week atop the Billboard 200, marking a historic milestone as both album and lead single extend their six-week reigns simultaneously – a first in chart history. In another notable move in this week’s Hot 100, sombr scores his first Top 10 hit of his career, as “Back to Friends” moves up one spot to reach No. 10.

The rest of the Top 10 is rounded out by HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” from KPop Demon Hunters, holding at No. 2, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” stays at No. 3, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” climbs one place to a new peak of No. 4, Swift’s “Opalite” falls one spot to No. 5, and Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” remains at No. 6. Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” moves up one place to reach a new high of No. 7, marking four Best New Artist Grammy nominees – Warren, Dean, Thomas, and sombr – with hit songs currently charting in the Top 10. While Kehlani’s “Folded” falls one spot to No. 8, and Morgan Wallen’s “I Got Better” holds at No. 9. (Billboard)

Grammy-winning artist Lil Nas X, born Montero Hill, appeared in a California courtroom on Monday (November 17) regarding charges of battery on a police officer following his August arrest after allegedly assaulting officers while naked and resisting arrest. In a video clip outside the courtroom, Hill’s defense attorney, Drew Findling, said, “As you can see, Montero is doing amazing, doing great, and we’re super happy for him. We’re just looking forward to a positive resolution in this case, which we’re very confident of.” Hill, who pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including injuring three officers, was recently released from a court-ordered inpatient treatment program at an undisclosed facility in another state following his arrest. Supported by family and legal counsel, Hill's team emphasized his ongoing focus on personal well-being amid the public scrutiny of his struggles, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for March 12. (Rolling Stone)

Grammy-winning rapper and producer Lil Jon has been officially announced as the headliner for the halftime show of the Baltimore Ravens' Thanksgiving Day game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. The Atlanta hip-hop superstar is known for hits like "Turn Down for What," with DJ Snake, "Yeah!" with Usher – which earned the rapper a Grammy in 2005 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration – and "Get Low," with the Ying Yang Twins. Lil Jon will be busy during the upcoming holiday, with the rapper serving double-duty by also appearing at the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City earlier that day. Also taking part in the festivities at the Ravens-Bengals game will be the Tony-winning actress Renée Elise Goldsberry from the Broadway musical Hamilton, who will sing the national anthem prior to kickoff. Lil Jon joins Jack White and Post Malone as halftime show performers during the three NFL Thanksgiving Day games. (Billboard)

Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old Australian who grabbed Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, has been sentenced to nine days in jail after being found guilty of public nuisance. This incident, which went viral, is not Wen’s first time accosting celebrities; he has a history of unauthorized stunts at concerts involving rushing onstage and putting his hands on artists like The Weeknd, Chainsmokers, and Katy Perry, for which he has previously faced legal action. Footage showed Grande visibly shaken as Wen grabbed her shoulder, before security quickly apprehended him. Despite the incident, Grande expressed her affection for Singapore on social media, while Wicked: For Good finishes its international premiere tour – featuring previous red carpet events in São Paulo, Paris and London – and will finally be released in theaters worldwide on Friday (November 21). (Billboard)

Saturday Night Live has just announced its December lineup of hosts and musical guests, highlighted by a star-studded holiday finale on Dec. 20 that will be co-headlined by host Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher. Grande will be promoting her starring role in the new film, Wicked: For Good, and she last hosted the show in October 2024, while the 79-year-old Cher returns to SNL as a musical guest for the first time since 1987. The rest of SNL’s December lineup features Melissa McCarthy hosting the Dec. 6 episode, with Dijon making his debut as a musical guest, following the release of his critically-acclaimed second album, Baby, while also fresh off receiving two 2026 Grammy nominations, for Producer of the Year and Album of the Year for his work on Justin Bieber's album SWAG. Josh O’Connor will make his hosting debut on Dec. 13, alongside musical guest Lily Allen, who will be returning to SNL for the first time since 2007 in support of her buzzworthy new album, West End Girl, which marks her first release since 2018’s No Shame. (Rolling Stone)

On Friday (November 14), Hilary Duff shared an Instagram video where she is celebrating the sold-out success of her upcoming Small Rooms, Big Nerves Tour. The brief, four-date run features an intimate series of shows in North America and England starting January 19 in London, marking her first live performances in over a decade. “The shows have sold out, and I am just completely overwhelmed,” said Duff in the social media clip, which she captioned, “I 👏🏼 can’t 👏🏼 freakin’ 👏🏼wait.” Duff went on to add that, “It’s just been the greatest week. Thank you for your love and your support and your extremely warm welcome with me getting back into music,” while hinting that more concerts are in the works. “The show’s sold out, but there’s going to be so many more live opportunities and moments to come,” she said. “So, be patient, and if you did get tickets to a show, can’t freaking wait to see you there.” (Rolling Stone)