It looks like we’re going to get a new show based on the early life and career of legendary hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.

Produced by Will Smith‘s Westbrook Studios, alongside The Malar Group, 215 (Philadelphia’s area code) will tell the story of teenage friends chasing a record deal as they try to make a name for themselves in Philadelphia’s growing hip-hop scene, according to Deadline.

“Westbrook has always been focused on developing stories with strong characters, distinctive worlds and a clear point of view,” Terence Carter, president of television, Westbrook Studios told the outlet. “215 is especially meaningful to us because it draws from the rise of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and celebrates Philadelphia during such a defining era in the city’s late-’80s/early-’90s hip-hop scene. The Malar Group shares our approach to storytelling, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to build a slate together with intention, beginning with a project rooted in friendship, ambition and the integrity of this specific time and place.”

CEO of The Malar Group, Sayan Navaratnam, added the he’s excited to bring their until origin story to life. “We’re excited to partner with Westbrook Studios on a slate of film and television projects driven by distinctive creative vision and exceptional storytelling,” he said. “215 caught our attention immediately. It’s the untold origin story of a show that audiences around the world have connected with for decades, but at its heart, it’s about two people who believed in each other, overcame extraordinary odds and built something that endured. 215 marks the start of a broader collaboration with Westbrook Studios, and we look forward to this project and the stories still to come.”

This won’t be the first time Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff have worked on a television series together. The two famously starred in the influential NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for six seasons from 1990 to 1996.

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With WWE Money in the Bank coming up this week, ShopBillboard rounded up the best deals on WWE merch during Prime Big Deal Days (October Prime Day) on Amazon. The 48-hour shopping event starts on Tuesday (Oct. 6) and ends the following day on Wednesday (Oct. 7) and has a wide range of deep discounts on WWE gear.

Whether you’ve been there from the very beginning or you just discovered the joys of pro wrestling, we spotted deals on all sorts of merch to show off your love for the WWE. In fact, you can save up to 50% on Amazon to shop action figures, wall calendars, signed photographs and other items. There is even an insulated fanny pack that’s shaped like a WWE championship belt that’s on sale for $33 (was $45) from the retail giant.

Scroll down and shop the best WWE merch you can shop on Amazon during Prime Big Deal Days.

And since this WWE merch is from Amazon, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re a Prime member. Otherwise, your cart has to be more than $35 to get free shipping.

Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market and access to exclusive shopping savings during Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday, as well as other perks. Learn more about Amazon Prime and its benefits here.

Additionally, WWE Monday in the Bank takes place on Saturday, Oct. 10. It broadcasts live from Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, while the WWE event is available to livestream on ESPN Unlimited.

Orville Peck may still hide his face behind a mask, but the country crooner has been astonishingly open about his struggles with addiction and mental health.

In a new interview airing Tuesday night (Oct. 6) on ABC’s Nightline at 12:35 a.m. ET, Peck revisits his road to sobriety with ABC News correspondent Jaclyn Lee. In this exclusive clip, Peck details his efforts to get sober following a near-fatal overdose. “I canceled all my touring, I headed into rehab. I lost my relationship,” he says.

In the interview, which was taped backstage before Peck’s Sept. 18 Hollywood Bowl gig, he candidly admits that he didn’t voluntarily go to rehab. Rather, “I was basically given an ultimatum about my career,” he says. “I didn’t really do it for myself at first. I did it for other people because I was so frightened of people leaving me. … But I found my own way through my journey of sobriety that I have to make the priority myself in all aspects of my life.”

He also admits that not everything has been rosy since getting sober. “I think at times it almost feels as if my anxiety is worse but that’s because I was numbing it before,” he says.

And, as fans know, the mask has also been slowly hiding less and less of his face, going from full coverage with fringe to the Lone Ranger eye mask now.  Peck discusses his facial covering with Lee, calling its initial purpose “armor to be vulnerable in my songwriting.”

Peck, who also talks about being bullied as a child, says he continues to work on himself:  “I think the hardest thing for any human is to have radical self-acceptance and just be so happy to be yourself no matter what. … That took me a long time to feel like I can just be myself in every scenario.”

Peck’s new Jay Joyce-produced album, Mule, debuted at No. 19 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart following its Sept. 18 release and includes a collaboration with Emmylou Harris.

Peck’s The Man Turned Mule Tour lasts through Nov. 22 before ending in Huntington, New York ; $1 from every ticket sold is donated to the Trevor Project.

Young Thug has dabbled with elements of R&B in the past, but now he’s leaning into his influences for a full-fledged R&B project, which he’s plotting to release before the year’s out.

Thugger sat down with Power actors Kris D. Lofton and Gianni Paolo on Tuesday (Oct. 6) for an episode of the Hollywood duo’s The Crew Has It podcast, which was taped over the weekend in Los Angeles at ComplexCon.

The Atlanta native revealed his plans to drop the untitled R&B album, saying he’s taking inspiration from Mary J. Blige with a sound he hasn’t completely explored.

“This year,” he said. “R&B motherf—er. I’m going R&B, I’m going R&B,” he said. “That bi— real, I’m going Mary J. I’m going real R&B. Most of the songs are sexual though. There’s probably two or three heartbreak songs. Most of ’em are fun times.”

Projects like Beautiful Thugger Girls saw Thug test the waters of R&B, while blending a mix of country and hip-hop. The experimental 2017 mixtape peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and spawned hits such as the multiplatinum “Relationship” (No. 65 Hot 100) featuring Future.

Thug also hinted at releasing some of the collaborations he has with Drake in the stash, including “What a Time to Be a Slime,” which leaked in 2020. “We got a few songs,” he said. “We got sh–. We finna drop. We finna do what we gotta do.”

Drizzy and Thug have proven to be a dynamic combination in the past on tracks like the Billboard Hot 100-topping “Way 2 Sexy,” “Ice Melts” (which reached No. 62 on the Hot 100), “D4L,” “Sacrifices,” “Party on Cleveland” and “Oh U Went.”

Young Thug and his Young Stoner Life labelmates are heading to Europe later in October for a run of shows as part of the New Generation Tour across the pond. In August, Thugger and YSL released their Slime Language 3 compilation album, which debuted at No. 146 on the Billboard 200.

Watch the full interview with Young Thug below. Talk about his upcoming R&B album takes place at the 23-minute mark.

Regional Mexican music stars Fuerza Regida are set to make history in Mexico by breaking a record with 10 consecutive dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 2027.

This unprecedented number of shows at the iconic Mexico City venue was announced Tuesday (Oct. 6) by the promoter Ocesa, after the California-based band added two more dates — Jan. 29 and 30 — to eight previously sold-out shows.

The concerts, scheduled for Jan. 28, 29, 30 and 31 and Feb. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, will be part of their ongoing THIS IS OUR DREAM TOUR, which kicked off this past June at Petco Park in San Diego, California. “The band chose the Palacio de los Deportes to host a series of shows that prioritize closeness with their audience,” Ocesa said in a press release.

The promoter also noted that, to accommodate the two additional concerts and align the band’s commitments with the venue’s availability, the Feb. 2 show will now take place on Jan. 28, becoming the first of the series. The previously announced dates will remain unchanged.

“Tickets purchased for Feb. 2, 2027, will be valid for the concert on Jan. 28, 2027,” Ocesa informed. “Those unable to attend on the new date can request a refund from Oct. 12 to 31 at the original point of sale or by consulting the following link.”

Tickets for the newly announced performances will go on sale via Ticketmaster Mexico starting Oct. 8.

This year, Fuerza Regida will be honored with the Billboard Vanguard Award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The group will receive the accolade in recognition of a career defined by innovation and an unconventional creative vision that has expanded the boundaries of Mexican music and brought the genre to new audiences worldwide.

The band, which is also a finalist for 12 awards this year, will take the stage for a special performance during the ceremony, which will air live on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. ET on Telemundo and Peacock from the James L. Knight Center in Miami.

Two nights earlier, they will participate in Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami Beach, Florida, where they will take part in a “Superstar Q&A” before headlining the Billboard En Vivo concert that same evening. For more information about this event and to purchase tickets, click here.

Formed in San Bernardino in 2015 and led by vocalist Jesús Ortiz Paz (JOP), Fuerza Regida has become one of the most influential acts in Mexican music, honoring their roots while continuing to push the genre into new territories. The band has crafted a unique sound and identity rooted in their bicultural experience, which has resonated with audiences far beyond the traditional borders of the genre and geography.

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A man who used AI songs to steal millions in music royalties has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, capping off the first-ever criminal case over streaming fraud.

Michael Smith, 54, pleaded guilty in March to using AI to generate thousands of songs and then streaming them billions of times with bots, generating more than $8 million in royalties. His was the first criminal conviction over a tricky problem that’s plagued the music industry for years.

Ahead of sentencing, his lawyers had asked the judge for no prison time, arguing the harm to any single artist was “insignificant” and “no victim suffered any real harm.” But at a hearing on Tuesday (Oct. 6) in Manhattan federal court, Judge John G. Koeltl ordered him to serve a year and a half in jail, followed by two years of supervised release.

Jamie McDonald, the Manhattan federal prosecutor, said in a statement following the sentencing that Smith had “exploited” the new technology to commit streaming fraud on a massive scale: “By flooding music streaming platforms with automated bots in the place of consumers, and fake songs in the place of creativity, Smith robbed millions in royalty payments from genuine artists and their fans.”

Smith’s attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

Streaming fraud — using artificial means to boost the plays of a particular song — has been an issue for the music industry for years. But the rise of artificial intelligence has supercharged the problem, both by enabling the creation of phony songs and by powering bot networks to play those tracks on repeat.

Bots can certainly be used to inflate the popularity of real acts — an allegation leveled by Drake at Universal Music Group in their bruising legal battle over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” But the far more common and more damaging form of streaming fraud is scammers trying to pull royalties for fake or copied songs, a practice that dilutes the money paid out to real artists and songwriters.

Smith was arrested in 2024 on a three-count indictment that charged him with using thousands of bots to continuously stream songs on Spotify, Apple Music and other platforms starting in 2017. Prosecutors claimed he initially started by merely boosting the plays of his own music, then switched to mass-producing AI songs to fuel the scheme.

In March, he entered a guilty plea on a single count of wire fraud conspiracy and agreed to forfeit more than $8 million in streaming fraud proceeds. That charge carries a five-year maximum prison sentence, and federal guidelines call for between 46 and 57 months, but probation officials recommended a lighter sentence of 24 months.

In court filings ahead of sentencing, Smith’s lawyers argued he had caused only “tiny, immeasurable losses” spread across millions of songwriters and artists, and urged no prison time at all: “The effect each individual stream of one artist’s song has on every other artist’s share of total streams is not akin to a drop in a proverbial bucket — it is a drop in an ocean,” Smith’s lawyers wrote.

But prosecutors fired back that Smith had, in fact, harmed many “hard-working (and often underpaid) songwriters” and urged the judge to send him to prison for at least 46 months. “A lenient sentence will send precisely the wrong message: streaming fraud will not result in meaningful punishment.”

In a statement on Smith’s sentence Tuesday, the Recording Industry Association of America said: “Streaming fraud harms creators and deceives fans. We appreciate the Court recognizing the significance of this harmful conduct and the ill-gotten gains that come from the pockets of real artists, songwriters and their label partners.”

The Music Fights Fraud Alliance, an advocacy group established in 2023, praised the sentencing of a man who “undermined trust in the music industry,” but said it would take “more than one case” to stop streaming fraud: “To truly protect creators, industry stakeholders, law enforcement, and policymakers must keep working together to deliver continued, meaningful deterrence.”

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.

Although regular toilet paper gets the job done, it’s not the best way to feel your best or cleanest throughout the day. And really, don’t you deserve better than just the bare minimum of cleanliness? Enter DUDE Wipes, flushable wet wipes that are hypoallergenic, as they helps you feel pristine and luxurious.

And right now, for Prime Big Deal Days, you can get select packs for up to 47% off list prices. It’s a great way to save big on your own personal hygiene with prices under $10.

With fun scents and sensations available, like Mint Chill, Shea BUTTer and others, DUDE Wipes are a life-changing way to clean up after you use the bathroom, especially if you have sensitive skin. Instead of feeling harsh toilet paper (no matter how “soft” it claims to be), these flushable wet wipes, which feature vitamin E and aloe, actually feel refreshing and ready to take on the day.

These wet wipes are great for day-to-day use, especially if you’re attending a music festival, concert or just traveling when toilet paper isn’t readily available or up to good hygiene standards. DUDE Wipes even come in very convenient travel packs, so you can take two or three with you when nature calls.

Ready to make the switch? Shop of the best deals on DUDE Wipes, below:

And since these DUDE Wipes packs are from Amazon, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re a Prime member. Otherwise, your cart has to be more than $35 to get free shipping.

Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market and access to exclusive shopping savings during Prime Big Deal Days in October and Black Friday in November, as well as other perks. Learn more about Amazon Prime and its benefits here.

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.

These deals are demon-slayingly good. Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, running Oct. 6-7, are bringing some major discounts to KPop Demon Hunters merch, with many of the best offers landing between 15% and 59% off. While most of the deals are on T-shirts, we rounded up a mix of other fandom finds included in the sale, plus a few graphic tees worth adding to your cart. Keep in mind that Prime Big Deal Days deals are exclusive to Prime members, but you can sign up for a 30-day free trial now and start saving.

As one of the hubs for KPop Demon Hunters merch, we’re seeing everything from official brand collaborations, including Squishmallows, to household essentials, apparel, framed artwork, jewelry and Halloween costume accessories. The timing of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is also ideal for fans shopping for Halloween costumes or getting a head start on holiday gifts.

At a Glance: KPop Demon Hunters Merch Sales During October Prime Day

Get Amazon Prime to Enjoy Prime Big Deal Days 2026

Prime Big Deal Days is a Prime member-only event, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime membership to access the savings on Oct. 6-7. A membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, but new members can start with a 30-day free trial that includes Prime’s standard benefits. That means you can shop member-exclusive deals while also getting perks such as fast delivery, Prime Video, Prime Reading and Music, Amazon Photos storage and select grocery and delivery benefits. After the trial ends, the membership automatically renews unless you cancel. Prime for Young Adults is available for $7.49 per month for eligible members.

Meet the Author

Sophie Dunne is an E-Commerce Writer at Penske Media Corporation, writing across Billboard, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, WWD and Footwear News. Originally from Ireland and based in Los Angeles, she previously worked at Static Media as a writer and editor across all brands, covering entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, shopping, sex and relationships, travel, home and garden, tech, health and wellness, history, and food. Her bylines have appeared in Women’s Health, The List, Women.com, Islands, Grunge, WebMD, and more. Before beginning her writing career in 2019, Sophie lived in Dubai for four years working as an Emirates Cabin Crew Member. Having traveled to 71 countries with the airline, she began writing for an LA-based publication as a travel writer during her final year. Sophie has a degree in Humanities from Carlow College, St. Patrick’s (now South East Technological University) in her native Ireland. She studied English, history, philosophy, and psychology.