Mike D is good to go solo. The Beastie Boys co-founder does just that on Thank You (via Capitol Records), his long-awaited debut solo LP which arrived last month — almost 40 years after his legendary hip-hop trio dropped their groundbreaking first album, Licensed to Ill.

On Tuesday night (Sept. 8), the New York native stopped by NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a chat about how his Mike D 5D album came to light, and for a brisk stroll down memory lane.

In the last few years, Mike (real name: Michael Diamond) caught the music bug once again by watching his sons in the studio, Skyler and Davis. “Watching them work, I was like ‘what am I doing here,’” he tells Fallon. “I really wanted to start making music and gradually we just got some amazing stuff…much like I did with Adam (“Ad-Rock” Horovitz) and Adam (“MCA” Yauch) we’d just pick up vintage synthesizers, weird old equipment that I don’t know how to use. And I start using it. I know it sounds like a very bad idea.”

There’s no school like the old school.  

Mike also recounted how he and his Beastie Boys bandmates met the late Dolly Parton at her birthday party some time ago in Los Angeles, and name-checked the impressive collection of music legends who came to wish her a happy one. Burt Bacharach was on the piano, Dionne Warwick was there, too. Bob Dylan was just hanging out, apparently happy to chat with the rapper, despite Mike’s unfortunate choice to wear a garish green outfit.

As guests left, Dolly was at the door saying goodbye to each and everyone one. “She wasn’t like get the F out,” he quips. “She was like, so nice to meet you. Thank-you for coming. The consummate professional. Very classy.”

Mike paid tribute to Dolly, who passed Aug. 25, at the age of 80. “The one and only, RIP, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, without a doubt,” he tells the host. “Beautiful person, beautiful humanitarian.” Watch below.

Mike D 5D stuck around the NBC studios to perform a medley of songs from Thank You – “Make It Stop” and “That’s Right.”

It’s his first major release since the Beasties put out their final group album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, in 2011. The following year, his bandmate Adam “MCA” Yauch died at the age of 47, following a years-long battle with cancer. The new 13-track effort features the singles “Make It Stop,” “Switch Up,” “What We Got,” “True Colors,” and “Crypto.”

Watch Mike D 5D’s late-night performance below.

Life on the road can be a slog. A grind. Countless bands have come unglued thanks to the rigorous of touring, that seemingly unending cycle of late nights, strange towns, faceless hotels.

Angus & Julia Stone had an altogether different experience with their Living Room Sessions, an intimate global tour that launched in 2024 in support of their sixth studio album, Cape Forestier.

The experience was so touching, so energizing, the sibling act used the trek as the creative springboard for their new album, Karaoke Bar (via Virgin Music).

“A lot of it was written while we were touring the Living Room Sessions and Angus and I were just really happy, loving making music together,” Julia Stone tells Billboard. “The shows felt so special… all these incredible old theaters around the world, an amazing band, and we were really enjoying telling stories and singing songs from across the 20 years we’ve been making music together.”

Along the way, the Stones played Royal Albert Hall in London, Paris’ L’Olympia, New York City’s Town Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. Each evening, a career highlight.

“Every night there was this real sense of joy, and then between legs of the tour we’d duck into studios and write and record,” Stone continues. “I can hear that in this album… a kind of happiness, an underlying sense of peace in the music.”

The new collection, which is out now, was written and recorded across Greece, France and Australia, the brother-and-sister duo’s homeland. And shaped by their experiences. Karaoke Bar captures a sense of both the granular and the grand, and that happiness is never far from the surface. It’s right there in focus track “The Start,” and the opening number, the title track, which rips a line from one of the happiest tracks of them all, “Sweet Caroline.”

“There’s always experiences and moments that make new music special,” notes Julia. “The special sauce is really a mix of the places we recorded, and also the way we were feeling while making this record.”

Recording in the old Carpet Factory studio on the Greek island of Hydra “was pure magic. It felt like stepping back in time. Men in suits smoking ciggies in the kitchen below the live room, smoke drifting up through the floorboards… we loved it. Such a vibe,” she recounts. Also, the facility was nearby to where the Stones’ idol Leonard Cohen wrote so much of his music.

One night, Angus’ son Adam came to hang out in the studio. “We ended up sitting around the kitchen table listening to songs and talking about music and life for hours. Sharing stories, sharing music,” says Julia. “Those kinds of moments stay with you.”

Miraval Studios at the Château de Miraval in the south of France was “equally inspiring,” recalls Angus. “The studio there is incredible, and the whole property just makes you want to create. We honestly could have settled into the cottage there and written the whole record, but we only had this window between the Europe and North American tours.”

The album’s second track, “Monroe,” came to life during that time. “We’ll definitely go back.”

The bulk of the LP’s 10 tracks were created on the duo’s portable recording gear, which they lugged on tour, including the final cut, “Mexico City,” which was inspired by their first ever show there in July 2024. Angus’s Sugarcane Mountain Studios, in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, was where the final touches where made to the album, completed when they finished their touring commitments in Australia and New Zealand. 

In a recording career spanning two decades, Angus & Julia Stone have amassed multi-platinum sales, No. 1s and numerous awards in their homeland and enjoyed an international breakthrough with the 2009 song “Big Jet Plane,” from their domestic chart-topping sophomore album Down The Way. The track went on to snag five ARIA Awards, including single of the year; won triple J’s annual Hottest 100 poll, and claimed the APRA Music Award for song of the year.

Rick Rubin produced the group’s third, self-titled studio album, from 2014, which went to No. 1 in Australia, for their second leader, and cracked the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 54. At the time, the uber-producer described the artists as “truly unique musicians. They are authentic and pure people who do things from the heart. I’ve never worked with anyone like them before.” All five of their previous studio albums have cracked the ARIA Top 10.

It’s a good thing Angus & Julia Stone draw joy and inspiration from the road. They’re about to set off once again. North American tour dates get underway this Friday, Sept. 11 at FONO Festival, followed by a three night stand at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, in Los Angeles, and dates in Ottawa, Brooklyn and New York. Australasian tour dates for February and March 2027 were announced earlier this week by Frontier Touring.

“It’s all looking pretty busy,” Julia remarks. “The calendar is full of color.”

“It’s an exciting time for us,” Angus adds. “Most of our catalogue now lives in the one home and we get to be in control of a lot of our music which is great. And we are so proud of this record and so excited to play it.” 

Angus & Julia Stone 2026 North American Tour Dates:

Sept. 11 — FONO Festival, Quebec City, QC
Sept. 14 — Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, Los Angeles, CA
Sept. 15 — Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, Los Angeles, CA
Sept. 16 — Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, Los Angeles, CA
Sept. 19 — CityFolk Festival, Ottawa, ON
Sept. 22 — Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Sept. 23 — Racket, New York, NY

2027 Australia Tour Dates:

Feb. 13 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre, SA
Feb. 20 — The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Feb. 25 — Forum Melbourne, VIC
Feb. 26 — Forum Melbourne, VIC
Feb. 28 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, NSW
March 5 — Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, WA

Ray LaMontagne is said to be doing just fine after he collapsed on stage in Nashville over the weekend, reportedly due to heat related dehydration.

The Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter was performing his 2004 song “Jolene” (not related to the Dolly Parton song of the same name) at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville when he was overcome and toppled slowly backways. Crew can be seen immediately rushing to his aid, reveals fan-filmed footage doing the rounds on social media.

Following his ordeal, the 53-year-old artist “is in good hands with the local EMS (emergency medical services),” reads a statement from his reps, Consequence of Sound reports. He’s “doing well now and is grateful for everyone’s understanding,” the message continues. Billboard has reached out to LaMontagne’s management.

LaMontagne isn’t the only one feeling the heat in Tennessee. Nashville has experienced its hottest start to September in a century. The heatwave lifted the mercury past 100 degrees F on the day of his concert, Saturday, Sept. 5, and the National Weather Service has assigned a “Heat Alert” to Nashville.

LaMontagne is currently touring the United States for the 20th anniversary of his critically-lauded debut album Trouble, with special guests The Weather Station. His tour was scheduled to continue Tuesday night, Sept. 8 at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre in Syracuse, N.Y., Sept. 8.

With Trouble, initially released through RCA and which was given a 20th anniversary reissue, LaMontagne announced himself as an artist of the highest caliber, with a fully-formed sound that could’ve been unearthed from a time capsule, a rare combination of Americana, folk, rock, and soul. Trouble caught many purists off guard, and LaMontagne’s career was away.

“This record is important to me for that reason,” he told Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast in 2025. “It’s the record that pointed me in this direction, and I know that’s just what I was supposed to do.”

He has since released eight more studio albums — the latest, 2024’s Long Way Home, on his own Liula Records — and won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album in 2011 for God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise.

LaMontagne has made one appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, with 2008’s “You Are The Best Thing” (peaking at No. 90), and landed nine titles on the Billboard 200, including three top 10s: 2008’s Gossip In The Grain, 2010’s God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise and 2014’s Supernova, all of which peaked at No. 3.

As part of BLACKPINK, JISOO is one of four. Now, the same goes for her latest campaign with fashion house Self-Portrait, in which she’s set to star as a quartet of “cinematic characters” in a series of short films, which Billboard can exclusively announce.

The campaign begins with JISOO — who in 2024 became the first musician to be the face of the London fashion house — in “The Enigma,” the first of the four videos. Shot in the style of an audition tape by Oliver Hadlee Pearch, it shows the performer modeling Self-Portrait’s faux leather skirt and checkered knit blazer, appearing bubbly and confident in herself in front of the camera.

“Maybe we’re not supposed to have everything figured out,” JISOO muses in the clip. “I always liked wandering.”

For the partnership, JISOO worked closely with the brand’s founder and creative director, Han Chong. In a statement, the K-pop star said, “I was so excited to star in this new series of short films … it allowed me to try something completely new, and each character I played required something different from me.”

“The evolution of the character’s wardrobe was how I found the nuance in each performance, and it was a real collaboration with Han and I on finding the subtlety in each role I was going to be playing,” she continued. “I have worn Self-Portrait for many years, and the pieces make me feel like I can do anything — this time, they let me dream that I could be anyone.”

Chong also praised the global star in a statement. “Having worked with JISOO for a few years now, she really has become a big part of our brand’s story and fabric. For this latest project together, we wanted to do something that meets JISOO where she is today; an incredible artist with range and a chameleonic edge as a performer,” he said. “We always talk about the Self-Portrait woman as being multifaceted, and JISOO really brings that to life through her performance in these short films.”

JISOO’s latest fashion campaign comes as she’s embarking on a new solo era musically. On Friday (Sept. 4), she released single “Click.”

Watch JISOO’s first of four Self-Portrait films below.

Ariana Grande surprise-released a live album on Tuesday morning (Sept. 8) featuring all of the tracks from her most recent petal studio album. petal (The Complete Live Album) was released as an iTunes exclusive and announced in an early morning post from the singer revealing that it features all 12 songs from the studio LP.

The album — available here — features live versions of the tracks “Kiss Me,” “Petal,” “Stay,” “Oh Well,” “Big Feelings,” “Freak” and “Warning Signs,” as well as a version of the LP’s lead single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” recorded during a rehearsal for the singer’s just-concluded Eternal Sunshine tour. Arianators will also hear live takes on “Like I Do,” “Never Get Over Me,” “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” and “Nowhere, Nobody.”

Grande wrapped her Eternal Sunshine tour on Sept. 1 with her final show in London, where she once again made another tweak to her “Thank U, Next” lyrics in honor of on-again boyfriend Ricky Alvarez. “Wrote some songs about Ricky/ I’m tryna make him my last,” she sang in her latest revamp of the song, adding more fuel to the fiery rumors that she and her ex are potentially rekindling their romance.

Ari and Alvarez dated from 2015 to 2016 for about a year, after meeting and working together on Grande’s Honeymoon Tour and it has appeared lately as if they are giving it another shot. Last month, the singer posted several selfies, including ones in which she was cuddling with former backup dancer Alvarez.

Grande announced in early August that she’s taking “a step back” from public engagements amid “ongoing public scrutiny,” including dropping out of her planned co-starring role in the West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George; her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey recently announced that he too is dropping out of the production.

Grande released her eighth studio album, petal, in July; the LP debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 295,000 total album-equivalent units earned.

Jon Small, the drummer and early Billy Joel bandmate whose musical and personal history with the Piano Man stretched from Long Island rock clubs to one of Joel’s most painful early chapters, has died.

Joel announced Small’s death in a tribute shared on social media. Small’s age and cause of death were not known at press time.

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Before Joel became one of pop and rock’s most recognizable singer-songwriters, he and Small played together in the Hassles, a Long Island band that released two albums in the late 1960s. The pair later formed Attila, a hard-rock duo built around drums and organ, releasing a self-titled album in 1970.

Their partnership ended abruptly after Joel fell in love with Small’s wife, Elizabeth Weber, while Joel was living with the couple. The episode — long part of Joel’s lore — is revisited in the recent documentary And So It Goes, where both men reflected on the fallout with striking candor.

“Elizabeth was very important to me, but I think I was not the guy she hoped I would be,” Small said in the documentary. “I kept seeing that Billy was not the same guy. Something was the matter. And Billy one day came up to me, became a little honest, and said to me, ‘I’m in love with your wife.’ So it was a very devastating thing for me, because these were basically my two best friends.”

Joel also addressed the affair in the film, saying, “I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker. I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.”

The affair led to Attila’s breakup and temporarily ended Joel and Small’s friendship. Joel later married Weber in 1973; the couple divorced in 1982.

Despite the rupture, Small and Joel eventually reconciled. In And So It Goes, Small said he came to understand the pain Joel carried from hurting him.

“He never really said anything to me,” Small said. “The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him.”

Small later worked behind the camera on several Joel projects, including the concert films Live From Long Island and Live at Shea Stadium. He also directed Joel’s “Baby Grand” video and went on to direct music videos for Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias and Brooks & Dunn.

Small’s death comes as Joel’s early years have been revisited through And So It Goes, which traces the singer’s rise from his pre-fame bands through the career that made him one of the most successful recording artists of his generation.

Joel’s Billboard history includes 43 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including 13 top 10 hits and three No. 1s: “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Tell Her About It” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

At the time of publication, additional details about Small’s death had not been announced.

The Spice Girls, but make it pumpkin. In a hilarious new commercial for Dunkin’, Ginger Spice and Baby Spice reunite to help usher in the brand’s fall flavors while revealing that there’s a band member fans don’t know about, played by Rachel Dratch.

Premiering on Tuesday (Sept. 8), the ad finds Geri Halliwell-Horner and Emma Bunton seated for a mock documentary-style interview, during which Baby Spice reveals: “A lot of people don’t know we originally had a sixth member.”

That member’s stage name? Pumpkin Spice. Dressed in a puffy orange getup, Dratch sips on a pumpkin-flavored iced latte while recalling her fictional favorite songs from her short-lived girl group career. “‘Don’t Squash My Love,’ ‘Walk Through My Pumpkin Patch,’” she listed off. “My favorite? ‘Bumpin’ Pumpkins.’”

“I left the band to focus on lattes,” Dratch, aka Pumpkin Spice, adds in an exaggerated British accent.

“We were devastated,” Halliwell-Horner says before playfully referencing absent members Victoria Beckham, Mel B and Mel C. “The others still won’t talk to her.”

The clip comes as Dunkin’ welcomes its autumnal offerings back to the menu, including pumpkin spice, pie and patch latte flavors as well as pumpkin bakery treats. In a statement, Dratch said of the campaign, “I think Pumpkin Spice was just ahead of her time.”

“Maybe a little too seasonal, but definitely ahead of the curve,” the SNL alum continued jokingly. “She left to focus on lattes, and honestly, I respect that kind of commitment. Getting to bring Pumpkin Spice back with Emma and Geri for Dunkin’ was so much fun. It feels like she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves.”

As for Bunton, the seasonal flavor reminds her of some special memories shared with loved ones. “The first time I tried a pumpkin spice latte was with my family in New York, which is probably why I love it so much,” she tells Billboard, noting that it’s also her go-to drink. “It really is autumn in a cup!”

When it comes to Halliwell-Horner, she may be starring in a Dunkin’ ad, but her beverage of choice is a little more British, though the sweet pastries do speak to her. “If I’m feeling ravenous, I could go for a full dozen,” she shares. “I always enjoy a cup of tea — sometimes I might even dunk it.”

The Spice Girls add their names to a lineup of A-listers who’ve partnered with the coffee chain. Sabrina Carpenter starred in campaigns last year and in 2024, while Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Megan Thee Stallion and more have all come aboard to advertise their favorite Dunkin’ indulgences in recent years.

And though Ginger and Baby Spice seem to regret parting ways with Pumpkin Spice before hitting it big, the faux sixth member’s absence didn’t stop the Spice Girls from taking over pop music in the ’90s. The quintet had three top 10 hits in 1997 alone, including four-week Billboard Hot 100-topping single “Wannabe.”

Watch the Pumpkin Spice and the Spice Girls in Dunkin’s ad below:

Macklemore is facing backlash from a pro-Israel organization after making an onstage plea to “Free Palestine.”

The 43-year-old rapper made the public plea while opening for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Friday (Sept. 4) as part of the British superstar’s Loop Tour.

“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore told the crowd. “I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

During his set, the Grammy-winning rapper also performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

Macklemore said he believes “every single human being that walks this earth deserves” to “know safety and peace before they know the sound of violence, to know the sound of laughter on a playground before planes and bombs, for parents to be able to say bye to their kids in the morning and not have to wonder if this is going to be the last time they kiss their child goodbye.”

The “Thrift Shop” hitmaker concluded his remarks by reflecting on his own fears and his decision to speak out.

“And if I let that fear I felt on the plane yesterday stop me from speaking my heart in order to keep my own comfort and the audience’s comfort, that is the day I no longer continue to be on stage,” he said. “So, I say ‘Free Palestine!’ I say, free America, free Cuba to the Congo to Sudan to Iran, and all the people in America who have to live in fear because of this terrorist organization ICE.”

Macklemore’s politically charged speech drew the attention of the Israeli-American Council (IAC), which represents more than 150,000 Israeli Americans. The organization has since launched a petition calling for the rapper to be removed from Sheeran’s remaining tour dates.

Macklemore is currently scheduled to open eight U.S. stadium shows between mid-September and early November, according to Sheeran’s website.

“This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the IAC’s petition reads. “The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda. This becomes even more troubling when the message relies on selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity.”

The organization is also calling “on tour leadership to clarify whether Macklemore’s political speech, visual content, and performance of ‘Hind’s Hall’ were approved in advance, and to establish clear boundaries for the use of the tour stage to promote political messaging.”

Macklemore has been vocal in his support for Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. In May 2024, he released “Hind’s Hall” in support of Gaza and pro-Palestinian student protests, criticizing U.S. support for Israel. He said all streaming proceeds from the song would go to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

“Click,” JISOO’s latest solo single, tops this week’s new music poll.

Listeners voted in a poll published Friday (Sept. 4) on Billboard, choosing the BLACKPINK star’s new song as their favorite new music — with the track narrowly taking the lead over a new solo release (“SaWaDiKa”) from another BLACKPINK star, LISA. Both songs were up against hot new releases from Miley, Adéla, Beyoncé feat. Pharrell and more, all of which arrived this week.

“Click,” bringing in more than 50% of the vote, ultimately rose to the top.

“Click” made its debut Friday (Sept. 4) alongside a cinematic, Joseph Kahn-directed music video starring a cyborg JISOO: She’s in an abandoned theme park, where she crosses paths with a suitor and a robotic teddy bear, the CLICK Bear — who helps the singer bring life to her deserted surroundings. The bear represents the presence of the JISOO’s fans, and her connection with them.

“Counting the reasons that we shouldn’t/ Mess up this thing, be more than friends/ But when you hold me like this/ And kiss away our differences/ There’s no explanation for it/ It’s just the way our bodies click/ Your lips, my lips, click/ We were made to fit/ Your hands, my hips, click/ We were made to fit,” JISOO sings on the pop track.

The release of “Click” follows JISOO’s 2025 debut mini album, AMORTAGE, and her most recent single, the Zayn collab “EYES CLOSED.”

Just behind “Click” on the poll is LISA’s solo song “SaWaDiKa,” with nearly 45% of the vote. Miley’s “Bass Persuades,” Adéla’s PRIMA and Beyoncé’s “CAN I WATCH YOU” feat. Pharrell were next on the ranking.

See the final results of this week’s poll below.

A second death has been reported at this year’s Burning Man festival in northern Nevada.

On Saturday afternoon (Sept. 5), Craigh Mann, 60, was found dead at his camp in Black Rock City, according to festival organizers.

“Burning Man Project is saddened to share that a second Black Rock City participant, Craigh Mann, a 60 year-old man, was found deceased by campmates in his camp on Saturday, September 5, at approximately 3 PM,” organizers said in a statement. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the participant’s family, friends, campmates, and all those affected by this loss.”

No cause of death was disclosed at press time.

Mann’s death marks the second reported fatality at this year’s festival, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The nine-day event began Aug. 30 and is scheduled to conclude Monday (Sept. 7).

The latest death comes days after another attendee in his mid-50s died following a “medical emergency” at the festival on Thursday (Sept. 3).

“It is with heavy hearts that Burning Man Project confirms a Black Rock City participant in his mid-50s experienced a medical emergency,” the festival said. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the participant’s family, friends, and those affected by this loss.”

The man “immediately received lifesaving measures, and was transported to the onsite center for emergency care where he was pronounced deceased,” according to organizers.

His cause of death had not been disclosed at press time, and his identity was being withheld pending notification of his family.

This year’s event has also been affected by severe weather. Heavy rain on Friday (Sept. 4) temporarily closed the main entrance and exit gate, prompting organizers to ask attendees to delay travel and those already at the festival to avoid driving, according to TMZ.