Listen up, music fans. From must-see concerts to upcoming releases, reunions and more, this month's music roundup covers the hottest news and events happening from Los Angeles to New York. Follow along for the latest highlights featuring artists and bands across all genres.
June
Ludacris Headlining FreeWheel Beach Concert at Cannes Lions
Ludacris is set to headline the FreeWheel Beach Concert, in partnership with NBCUniversal, at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The performance is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15, and the rapper is expected to deliver a dynamic set mixing throwback favorites with his newest hits. Before Ludacris takes the stage, attendees will enjoy sounds from DJ Namashty, followed by a special guest DJ set from 'Summer House' star Kyle Cooke.
A representative for the event shared, 'By bringing in Ludacris as our concert performer, who's an iconic member of the Comcast NBCUniversal family with Universal's 'Fast and Furious' franchise, we're demonstrating the depth and breadth of our company and bringing fans and brands closer together.' The concert serves as the grand finale for FreeWheel and NBCUniversal's full day of programming, which will feature celebrities like Jimmy Fallon, Savannah Guthrie, Bowen Yang and more, bringing live programming to life on the Croisette. Doors for the invite-only event open at 8 p.m. local time.
May
Benson Boone Sells Out 29-Date Tour in Nine Seconds
Benson Boone announced that his entire 'American Heart' tour sold out in just nine seconds. The singer, known for 'Beautiful Things,' expressed his gratitude on Instagram: 'bruh. (Pees himself) THANK YOU THANK YOU.' The arena tour, named after Boone's sophomore album releasing June 20, kicks off Aug. 22 in Saint Paul, Minn., with stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles, before concluding Oct. 11 in Salt Lake City.
Boone's rapid rise has been one of the biggest stories in pop music this year. His breakout single 'Beautiful Things' dominated charts globally, and the anticipation for his new album has only intensified. The fact that a 29-date arena tour sold out in nine seconds underscores the incredible demand and his growing status as a headline act.
Post Malone's 'Travelin' Tailgate' Hits Select Cities
Post Malone is currently crisscrossing the globe with his Big Ass Stadium Tour, and he's giving fans a taste of life on the road with his 'Travelin' Tailgate' pre-show experience. Hours before his sold-out Dallas show at AT&T Stadium in May, the pre-show took place across the street in a parking lot, offering live music, locally owned food trucks, exclusive merchandise, photo opportunities and even a chance to win new ink from Malone's own tattoo artist. T-Mobile also sponsored an immersive dive bar-meets-country glam pop-up called Club Magenta, where fans could play Skee-Ball for prizes like Malone merch, customize leather keychains, charge their phones, and relax with Red Bull and water. A rooftop view provided the perfect photo opp. The next Travelin' Tailgate was scheduled for May 18 at Ford Field in Detroit, with additional dates to follow.
April
Stevie Nicks Teases 'Autobiographical' Album Inspired by 'Fantastic Men'
Stevie Nicks revealed she is working on an 'autobiographical' album, her first project of entirely new material since 2011's 'In Your Dreams.' The legendary singer teased what she called 'the ghost record' while being inducted into the Pollstar Live! Hall of Fame on April 16. 'I have seven songs, and they are real stories where I'm not pulling any punches for probably the first time in my life. They are not airy, fairy songs that you are wondering who they're about but you don't really get it. They're real stories of memories of mine of fantastic men,' she said, citing the late Prince as one muse.
The event also honored Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Jelly Roll, Missy Elliott, Taylor Swift, Usher and Dead & Company, the latter of which won residency of the year for its 'Dead Forever' show at Sphere in Las Vegas. Backstage, Nicks posed for a photo with Dead & Company members Bob Weir and John Mayer.
March
The Millennium Tour Hits the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
The Millennium Tour 2025 made a stop in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area on March 28, bringing a celebration of 2000s R&B and hip-hop to the Dickies Arena. The 25-city trek, produced by the Black Promoters Collective, was co-headlined by Trey Songz, Omarion and Bow Wow, with a star-studded lineup including Nivea, Plies, Boosie, the Ying Yang Twins, RSVP and special guest Rick Ross.
The sold-out crowd, dressed in airbrushed shirts and jersey dresses, was treated to a night of nostalgia. Nivea opened with 'Okay,' 'Don't Mess With My Man' and 'Complicated.' The Ying Yang Twins followed with a 15-minute set of 'Salt Shaker,' 'Wait,' 'Say I Yi Yi' and 'Whistle While You Twurk.' RSVP, a group comprising Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V and Pleasure P, delivered a standout set that included each member's solo hits. Bobby V stole the show with his piano skills and handing out red roses during 'Mrs. Officer.'
Boosie paid tribute to late Dallas rapper MO3, performing their collaboration 'Everybody.' MO3 was shot and killed in November 2020; a week before the show, rapper Yella Beezy had been charged with hiring a hitman to kill MO3. Rick Ross and Plies rounded out the pre-headliner performances, with Plies delivering a high-energy show while Ross's set left many underwhelmed.
Bow Wow started his 30-minute set by jumping out of the stage floor and performing 'Shortie Like Mine,' followed by 'Like You,' 'Let Me Hold You' and 'Outta My System.' He revealed his eldest daughter, Shai, 13, had recently moved to Dallas after her mother Joie Chavis' house burned in the Los Angeles wildfires. Omarion performed his solo hits 'O,' 'Touch' and 'Post to Be,' plus a few B2K songs, though fans missed the other B2K members. Trey Songz closed the night with 'Love Faces,' 'Neighbors Know My Name' and 'Panty Droppa,' and brought out Dallas rapper Dorrough for 'Ice Cream Paint Job.' He ended his set with 'Bottoms Up,' tossing his sweaty tank top into the crowd.
Lady Gaga Announces 'Intimate' Tour for New Album 'Mayhem'
Lady Gaga announced on March 26 that she will be taking her new album, 'Mayhem,' on the road. 'I wasn't planning to tour this year after my shows in Singapore but the incredible response to the new album inspired me to keep things going,' she wrote on Instagram. The 'Abracadabra' singer opted for arenas instead of stadiums to have 'the opportunity to control the details of the show,' which she described as 'the kind of theatrical and electrifying experience that brings MAYHEM to life exactly how I envision it.'
The Mayhem Ball kicks off July 16 in Las Vegas, with stops in New York, Miami and Chicago through September, followed by a European leg concluding in November. Tickets for North American dates went on sale April 3, with presales beginning March 31.
Brandi Cyrus to Open for Kenny Chesney at Sphere Residency
Brandi Cyrus, the eldest daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus and older sister of Miley Cyrus, is heading to Las Vegas. She will open for Kenny Chesney during his upcoming residency at the Sphere. 'Honestly, I'm still in shock. It is such an amazing opportunity. Kenny is a legend,' Brandi said at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. The residency runs May 22 through June 21, with Brandi slated to join Chesney for all 15 shows. She promised a DJ set that will be 'really special' and 'unlike anything' she's ever done, featuring deeper country cuts and fresh edits.
Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and More Join Forces for 'Queens' Tour
Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills announced the 'Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage.' tour on March 18. The R&B icons will celebrate their decades-long careers, performing hits including 'Ain't Nobody,' 'I'm Every Woman,' 'Lady Marmalade,' 'Midnight Train to Georgia' and 'Never Knew Love Like This Before.' The first leg begins May 9 in Las Vegas and ends June 1 in Indianapolis, with stops in Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Nashville. A second leg is expected to be announced in the summer.
Ariana Grande Announces 'Eternal Sunshine' Deluxe Edition
Ariana Grande announced on March 10 that she will release a deluxe edition of her 2024 album, 'Eternal Sunshine,' to mark its first anniversary. 'Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead' dropped on March 28 and features nine bonus tracks: six brand-new songs plus remixes of 'Yes, And?,' 'Supernatural' and 'The Boy Is Mine.' The original album was nominated for best pop vocal album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, losing to Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet.'
Jennie's Debut Solo Album Surpasses 450K Pre-Orders
K-pop superstar Jennie's debut solo album, 'Ruby,' surpassed 450,000 global pre-orders. Columbia Records announced the news on March 4, three days before the release of the 15-track project, which features collaborations with Childish Gambino, Dominic Fike, Dua Lipa and more. Pre-order packages included signed CD box sets with T-shirts, hoodies, postcards and stickers. The Blackpink member had released lead single 'Mantra' last year, followed by 'Love Hangover' featuring Fike and 'ExtraL' with Doechii.
February
Rising Country Star Max McNown Plays Irving Plaza
Max McNown performed back-to-back shows at Irving Plaza in New York City in February. The rising country star played his hits, including 'A Lot More Free' and 'Turned Into Missing You,' at the Union Square venue. McNown was originally booked for the 575-seat Bowery Ballroom but sold it out, so the concerts were moved to Irving Plaza, which holds over 1,000 people. The Nashville-based singer got his start busking in California before breaking out in 2023. He released his sophomore album, 'Night Diving,' on Jan. 24, and Kelly Clarkson recently covered 'A Lot More Free' on her talk show.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA Extend Grand National Tour
Kendrick Lamar and SZA added four North American dates and 13 European shows to their Grand National Tour on Feb. 10, the day after they co-headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. The summer stops include Toronto and Washington, DC, as well as Amsterdam, Paris, London and Rome. Presales began Feb. 12 before the general sale on Feb. 14. During the 13-minute Super Bowl show, Lamar performed his Grammy-winning diss track 'Not Like Us,' reigniting his feud with Drake.
January
Katy Perry Announces US Leg of 'Lifetimes' Tour
Katy Perry announced on Jan. 27 that she is bringing her 'Lifetimes' tour to the US. The pop star's American leg begins May 7 at Toyota Center in Houston, with stops at the United Center in Chicago, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Kia Forum in Inglewood, TD Garden in Boston, Madison Square Garden in New York and Kaseya Center in Miami, among others. In addition to performing tracks from her latest album, '143,' Perry will treat fans to 'all of her hits, drawing from her extensive catalog,' according to a Live Nation press release. Tickets went through presales starting Jan. 28, with general sale on Jan. 31.
Performers Announced for 2025 Grammys
The Recording Academy announced in early January that the 67th annual Grammy Awards would still go on as planned despite the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Billie Eilish, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter were confirmed to perform at the Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 2. Other performers included Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Raye, Shakira and Teddy Swims. Trevor Noah returned as host for the fifth consecutive year.
Morgan Wallen Announces 'I'm the Problem' Album and Tour
Morgan Wallen revealed on Jan. 24 that his fourth studio album would be titled 'I'm the Problem.' He also unveiled 19 dates for his 'I'm the Problem' tour, which kicks off June 20 at NRG Stadium in Houston and includes stops in Miami, Seattle and Toronto. A rotating lineup of guests such as Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett will join Wallen. Presales started Jan. 30, with general sale on Jan. 31. A portion of proceeds benefits the Morgan Wallen Foundation, supporting youth sports and music programs.
Star-Studded Lineup Announced for LA's FireAid Benefit Event
The music industry came together to raise money for Los Angeles after the devastating wildfires. The Intuit Dome and Kia Forum hosted a FireAid benefit event on Jan. 30, with performances from Billie Eilish and Finneas, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks and Tate McRae. Dave Matthews and John Mayer performed together for the first time. The event was broadcast on multiple platforms and streamed live on Apple Music, Max, Netflix, Paramount+ and Prime Video, among others.
Taylor Swift, Eagles and More Donate to LA Wildfire Relief
Numerous artists donated to wildfire relief efforts. Taylor Swift gave an undisclosed amount to charities including the California Community Foundation Fund, Greater Los Angeles Education Relief, Habitat for Humanity and MusiCares. The Eagles and Beyoncé each donated $2.5 million to FireAid and the LA Fire Relief Fund, respectively. The Weeknd granted $1 million, and Jennifer Lopez contributed items from her own closet. Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco and Dave Grohl were spotted volunteering across Southern California, serving food to first responders.
Grammys Proceed with 'Renewed Sense of Purpose' After LA Wildfires
The Recording Academy announced on Jan. 13 that the 2025 Grammys would proceed as planned, but with a renewed mission: raising funds for wildfire relief and honoring first responders. 'In challenging times, music has the power to heal
Source: MSN News