Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

Last week, we featured FKA twigs with Lil Yachty, Myles Smith, Kashus Culpepper and more.

This week: sombr returns with a new single and rising-star-studded video for it; Phoebe Bridgers shares the lead single for her upcoming third album, Lost Weekend; and Steve Lacy continues teasing his third album, Oh yeah?, with a SZA collab…plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

sombr, “My Body Isn’t Ready”

Sombr has done it again; with his latest single, he continues to give voice to the complicated feelings that come with moving on, or in this case, not being ready to (the New Yorker continues to be the sole writer of his music as well). By now, he’s proven that he can deliver a pop-rock banger just as easily a contemplative slow-burn, the latter of which best describes “My Body Isn’t Ready.” For fans who are subscribing to “sad summer,” as Noah Kahan is calling it, this song fits right in.

Phoebe Bridgers, “Lost Boys”

Opening with glitchy, distorted lyrics, “Lost Boys” quickly snaps into focus as a folky, fairly polished pop song — one that sounds right at home for Bridgers while also hinting at an expanded sonic universe for her upcoming third album, Lost Weekend, out in August. Fittingly, Jack Antonoff co-produced alongside Tony Berg (a frequent sombr collaborator) and Ethan Gruska — with vocal support from Bridgers’ Boygenius bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. For its first three-and-a-half minutes, “Lost Boys” functions as a warmly welcomed lead single — perhaps hinting at a theme of feeling lost in it all — but then, Phoebe hits us with a classic Bridgers scream, showing there’s still some angst under this smoother sonic surface.

Steve Lacy feat. SZA, “is it cool?”

After launching his next album era with the airy indie-rap lead single “the feeling,” Steve Lacy’s second release “is it cool?” is a quicker hit (it’s nearly half the runtime as its predecessor). As a result, it tells a tighter story in conversation with SZA who drops in for just two verses (plus some harmonies) about the role trust plays in a partnership. “You ain’t gotta trust me to love me, baby/ ‘Cause I don’t even trust myself,” sings Lacy. Though somewhere along the way, it’s as if he realizes in realtime how uncool that really is, concluding: “Maybe I should trust myself.”

Gracie Abrams, “Look at My Life”

The second single from Gracie’s upcoming album, Daughter From Hell, continues the narrative arch of its first: that everything’s not really as great as it may seem. And while lead single “Hit the Wall” lays it out quite simply, “Look at My Life” pulls at that thread with a bit of maniacal denial, disguising harsh truths under driving pop production “Do I look high-functioning or/ Is my façade crumbling?” Abrams asks, before singing on the chorus, “Bet you can’t tell, but it’s kind of a bad time/ A new spiral every night/ Bawling my eyes out/ No, but I’m so fine.” Perhaps her third single will be the judge of that.

Katy Perry, “Watch It Burn”

With “Watch It Burn,” Katy comes full force with a new perspective (essentially, f–k it) and new crew of collaborators including Justin Tranter (the two teamed on previous single “bandaids”), Jason Gill, Kiddo and more. While the song clocks in under three minutes, there’s an defiant clarity to it — essentially proving the point that there’s nothing more for her to work out in her head or the studio. As she says herself: “I’m gonna get what I deserve…Finally I put myself first.” And what a great place to be, judging by the sound of it.

kwn, And All Pride Aside

What better way to follow up a breakthrough EP than with B-sides that present an entirely different side of its primary artist? East London R&B singer-songwriter kwn continues her ascent with And All Pride Aside, a terrific EP that blends her sensual, tongue-in-cheek side with the progress she’s made in terms of processing grief amid her rising fame. From tender tributes to her late grandfather (“Heaven’s In Your Hands”) to slick flips of ’00s hip-hop staples like Nelly’s “Hot In Here” (“Risk It All”), kwn, once again, delivers a project for all moods, while also pushing herself into new lyrical territory that plays as an authentic reflection of her personal and artistic evolution. — KYLE DENIS

TEEKS, “My Boy”

Perfectly timed for Pride Month, soulful New Zealand singer-songwriter TEEKS has unleashed “My Boy,” a tender, unabashed tribute to the innate beauty of queerness and sexuality, particularly within the framework of men of color. “My boy, pretty like a sunrise/ So strong, gentle like a butterfly/ Big shot, all the girls go crazy,” he croons at the onset over somber guitars and warbling bass. With his voice occasionally creeping into a slightly hoarse upper register, TEEKS perfectly captures the tension and apprehension that comes with exploring and pursuing a new, burgeoning — and sometimes forbidden — love. — K.D.

This story is part of Billboard’s Global World Cup Series, a collection of stories which pairs top soccer stars across the world competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with highly-touted musicians in accompanying countries.

Unflashy and unassuming, Nguyen Nhat Minh is the truest definition of Vietnam U23’s resilience. Fans see his sheer tenacity on the pitch, yet few realize that behind this composed fortress lies a man of deep reflection. Nhat Minh harbors a love for football profound and forgiving enough to transform every bitter hardship into the driving force to push forward.

It is no coincidence that Nhat Minh’s name features in the Billboard’s Global World Cup Series accompanying the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He approached our conversation with the same unwavering composure he showed at the final whistle of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup third-place playoff. Looking back at that milestone, Nhat Minh retains his signature “cool” demeanor, letting the statistics speak for his extraordinary journey: 600 minutes of unceasing play, six consecutive matches and 16 spectacular clearances against a formidable opponent like South Korea.

His answer to our first question perfectly describes how he plays football. No goals scored, no flashy plays making the headlines. But every time he appears in the right spot, executes the perfect clearance and holds his position, the entire defense stands firm with him, and the whole squad rediscovers the vital energy needed to press on.

As an athlete, what do you admire most about music artists?

Nhat Minh: I admire how artists ignite passion and captivate their audience. It’s not something just anyone can do. It doesn’t stem from top-tier vocal techniques or the sheer number of hits, but rather from an invisible energy radiating from the stage into the crowd, making emotions swell and making the audience just want to stand up and sing along.

Amidst suffocating pressure, what makes you feel that all your efforts are worth it?

Nhat Minh: Every ounce of effort becomes worthwhile when you look at your own passion, fight for the national colors, strive for the team’s collective success and see the acknowledgment in the eyes of the fans.

A Team Player, Not a Spotlight Seeker

At the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, while the defensive line was decimated by injuries and suspensions, Nhat Minh was the lone pillar standing tall from start to finish, not missing a single minute. This was absolutely no miracle or stroke of luck; it was the result of a physical foundation built through countless unphotographed training sessions and a nerves-of-steel mentality forged through forgotten defeats. He is a player born to belong to the collective, not to chase personal glory.

On match days, what genre of music do you and your teammates usually listen to?

Nhat Minh: Before the match, the whole team and I often turn to fast-paced and upbeat EDM tracks. Music at that moment acts as a catalyst, helping me heighten my focus, cast aside nerves and force my body to fully awaken to reach its peak state. But after leaving the locker room, Quân A.P’s music is what I listen to most to stabilize my mind.

Have you ever watched a World Cup live?

Nhat Minh: Although I am still just a loyal spectator through the small screen, my excitement for the World Cup has never faded. I always follow the matches because the allure of the rolling ball doesn’t just lie in the technicalities, but in the electrifying atmosphere of tens of thousands of people. The feeling of everyone holding their breath together, erupting in shared joy or collective regret — that is a magnificent resonating energy that no technology can replicate.

Madonna fans score a surprise late goal with the release of “Read My Lips,” a new addition to the Official FIFA World Cup 26 album.

“Read My Lips” is the Queen of Pop’s bilingual collaboration with Latin star Feid, and it arrives late Thursday, June 25, a “Bonus Edition” cut from the all-star FIFA World Cup collection, which now expands to 20 tracks.

Produced by Madonna, Stuart Price and Tainy, the song first reached our ears in Madonna’s Confessions II – The Film, which premiered earlier this month at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, a 13-minute visual project centered around her upcoming album Confessions II, and is now available for the first time as a complete release.

It’s shaping as a Madonna Summer. The superstar singer will drop the full length album, Confessions II, on July 3.

Then, two weeks later, on Sunday, July 19, she’ll join BTS and Shakira on stage at MetLife Stadium for the first-ever halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

With all the activity surrounding her short film, new music and concerts, Madonna hasn’t forgotten about her long-gestating biopic.

In a recent Interview cover story, the “Like a Virgin” singer spoke openly about why the screen project has experienced so many delays, from her perspective. “I was supposed to make a movie about my life,” she began. “I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting. We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed — I’ve had an extraordinary life. I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget.”

Confessions II, it turns out, was born from those frustrations.

The film project was first announced by Universal Pictures in 2020. After Julia Garner was cast in the starring role and Madonna worked on two versions of the script, news broke in 2023 that the project had been scrapped by the studio. In May 2025, the seven-time Grammy winner partnered with Shawn Levy to create an autobiographical series about her life, a few months after which the Weapons actress appeared to hint that she was still involved.

The actress recently appeared in Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love” music video, which dropped earlier in June, another teaser for Confessions II.

The Official FIFA World Cup 26 Album (Bonus Edition) features recordings by Andrea Bocelli, Daddy Yankee, Future, The Rolling Stones and more. Stream it below.

Katy Perry is setting her past ablaze on new single “Watch It Burn,” which dropped Thursday night (June 25) alongside a cinematic new music video.

As previewed in teasers shared by the pop star leading up to its release, the visual finds her wreaking havoc as a monstrous scorpion-human hybrid. On the cathartic pop-rock banger — which Perry performed before its release at both O Son do Camiño in Spain and Rock in Rio Lisboa — she sings about reclaiming her life by saying goodbye to a long-term relationship.

“Tonight’s the night, I light a match/ Throw it hard behind my back,” she sings on the track. “Gonna try to forgive and forget/ Light a cigarette, and watch it burn.”

The hitmaker adds in the lyrics, “I’m gonna get what I deserve … Finally I put myself first.”

“Watch It Burn” marks Perry’s first release since November single “Bandaids.” Before that came 2024 album 143, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

The new song’s lyrics seemingly nod to the singer’s breakup last year from fiancé Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares daughter Daisy. While speaking with cowriter Justin Tranter on his Unfamous podcast, Perry said, “In ‘Watch It Burn,’ I am wrestling with my darkness, but last year was pretty tough.”

“I have not given myself permission to be angry my whole life over things where I should be f—king angry about,” she continued. “What I’ve done is I pushed it down, but I should be f—king angry. I’m allowed to be angry for a f—king moment.”

Perry is now in a relationship with Justin Trudeau, whom she called “the love of my life” during a Q&A at the premiere of her Lifetimes Tour concert film in New York earlier in June. “I fly super high,” she added at the time. “Sometimes I need to be anchored. To have that anchor finally makes me feel really whole.”

Check out “Watch It Burn” below.