Thanks to the outpouring of love for You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love, Olivia Rodrigo is enjoying the happiest week, ever. Her words.
The American pop phenomenon dropped in for a chat Wednesday, June 24 with Australia’s Nova network on her hit new album, how she surrounds herself with supportive people, and more.
After powering to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, and around the globe, including Australia, the love for You Seem Pretty Sad has put a smile on Rodrigo’s face.
“I’ve had the happiest week ever. It feels so amazing to have this record out in the world,” she tells Nova 96.9’s Ricki-Lee & Tim. “I’ve been living with it, and you know, finessing it for about two years now, and so it feels kind of surreal that now the songs are in other people’s hands, and to watch them kind of resonate with them the way that they are, and you know, apply them to their own personal lives, is just, it’s just so beautiful, and a total dream come true.”
You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 485,000 units shifted, for Rodrigo’s career best week. She’s now a perfect three-from-three on the all-genres albums chart, and the rumor mill is now grinding away on whether Rodrigo can win her first album of the year trophy at the Grammy Awards next February.
The secret to her success? Working with the right people. Just like the rest of us, Rodrigo admits she’s “navigating my way through this crazy old world,” but she insists on “finding people who really support you and truly love you for who you are is just the name of the game. I think if I am sane at all, it’s only because of my wonderful friends who have always supported me and like brought me back down to earth.”
If she had to dish out advice, she’d suggest being “really careful who you spend your time with.”
Currently, Rodrigo doesn’t have any Australian tour dates scheduled for her 65-date world tour in support of Sad, though she isn’t ruling it out. “I am so on album mode. I like literally cannot see five feet in front of [me],” she told the Sydney Breakfast radio show hosts. Rodrigo last visited these parts in October 2024 when her GUTS World Tour looped into Sydney and Melbourne. “I love going to Australia,” she added, “and I hope to be back very soon.”
The love goes both ways. You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love (via Geffen/Universal) opened its account at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart last Friday, while “Stupid Song” started atop the national singles tally, giving Rodrigo a rare chart double. All 13 tracks from the new collection impact the ARIA top 30.
Like in the United States, all three of her studio albums have topped the national chart. Her debut album Sour logged eight weeks at No. 1 in 2021, and her sophomore collection Guts led the tally for two weeks in 2023. Rodrigo just missed out on the top 10 with her 2025 release Live From Glastonbury (A BBC Recording), which peaked at No. 11.
Stream her interview with Nova here and below.
When Mackenzie Sol was just 4 years old, he auditioned for judge Simon Cowell on The X Factor. More than 20 years later, the now-25-year-old TikTok star was back in front of Cowell to try out for America’s Got Talent.
Related
On Tuesday night’s (June 23) episode, Sol transformed sombr‘s breakout hit “Back to Friends” into a sensual R&B ballad, slowing down the tempo and adding a series of creative vocal runs, putting all the attention on the song’s heartbreaking lyrics. “Back to Friends” was sombr’s first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 back in April 2025, eventually peaking at No. 7 in January this year.
Ahead of his performance, Sol was able to tell Cowell about their first encounter more than two decades ago. What he didn’t mention is that in the years since, he’s gone on to amass more than 12 million TikTok followers through his combination of comedy and music videos. He also previously auditioned for American Idol in 2024, making it to the top 20 of season 22 before he didn’t make the top 14 cut.
But he’ll be moving forward in AGT: Following the sombr cover, Cowell asked fellow judge Mel B of Spice Girls fame to share her thoughts, and she immediately went for the Golden Buzzer, automatically advancing Sol to the live shows.
Below, watch Sol’s full audition:
After almost 60 years, Daryl Braithwaite is calling time on performing live.
In a social post on Tuesday, June 23, the ARIA Hall of Fame inducted singer and former Sherbet frontman says years-long battles with his own body are taking a toll.
“I would like to share this news with you all,” he writes on Instagram. “After much thought and consideration, I have made the difficult and sad decision to step back from performing live gigs. For some time now it has been increasingly physically challenging for me to sing comfortably and as a result it has taken the joy out of performing, which has always been so important to me.”
The iconic Australian singer doesn’t close the door on studio work or future recordings, although he leaves little wiggle room for one-off shows or events.
“I have loved the 58 years of being a part of the music industry,” he continues. “I sincerely want to thank all of the dedicated and loyal supporters and all of the people and organisations that I have been associated with who have been such a significant part of my singing life. With much love and I thank you. Daryl.”
Braithwaite’s last promoted solo show was presented March 13 at The Cooly Hotel in Queensland. Prior to that, he embarked on the 2024 Red Hot Summer series, a national tour of open-air venues headlined by Simple Minds and ICEHOUSE.
As frontman with glam-era pop outfit Sherbet, Braithwaite landed a string of hits in the ’70s with “Summer Love,” “Howzat,” “Cassandra” and others. The Sherbs, as they’re affectionately known down under, enjoyed a taste of international success.
Back in 1976, their Aussie chart-topping hit “Howzat” reached No. No. 4 in the United Kingdom and No. 61 in the United States. And they crossed into French Touch territory when Daft Punk sampled their early ‘80s track “We Ride Tonight” for the now-disbanded duo’s song “Contact,” from 2013’s Random Access Memories.
Braithwaite’s interpretation of Rickie Lee Jones’ “The Horses” is now regarded as a classic Down Under and is a staple at house parties across the country. When triple j counted down its inaugural Hottest 100 of Australian Songs in July 2025, Braithwaite’s “The Horses” came in at No. 30 – the highest-ranked cover in the poll.
The Aussie singer, how aged 77, is one of a small handful of artists twice elevated into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He got his dues with Sherbet in 1990, in just the third year of the annual celebration. And again in 2017, as a solo artist.
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.
From the screen to skin, Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters franchise is showing up in brand new ways, as seen in a new collaboration with Korean skincare brand, Anua.
The K-beauty brand — which recently signed Kendall Jenner as an ambassador — released its KPop Demon Hunters collaboration earlier this year, and the products now get their first discount as part of Amazon’s Prime Day sale.
The Anua x KPop Demon Hunters collection is discounted up to 25% right now on Amazon.com. Why it’s worth it: the products are still regular price on the Anua site.
ANUA Ceramide Barrier Collagen Mask (Four-Pack)
These Anua face masks are infused with ceramides, peptides and other nourishing ingredients for long-lasting hydration and skin repair.
The bouncy mask is paired with a cool, gel-like formula that absorbs quickly and easily on the skin (what we like: the mask stays put too). Reviewers say their skin is noticeably firmer and smoother after wearing the mask for a couple of hours. The KPop Demon Hunters edition of the mask features Rumi, Mira and Zoey on the packaging, and a “Golden”-inspired backing film that reveals itself when you first open the mask.
ANUA Vita Collagen Mask (Four-Pack)
This “Eternal Honmoon” edition of the mask helps to improve skin firmness and brightness, thanks to the addition of vitamin C and 1% “pearl” for a dewy, shimmery, glass skin effect.
Anua says the thick gel sheet gradually becomes thinner as it applies to the skin, “delivering a refreshing soothing effect.” In our experience, this mask works best when worn for about 30 minutes.
Anua Ultra-Thin Spot Cover Patch
This pack of 55 acne dots features pimple patches inspired by the characters and motifs from the movie.
The stickers help to absorb excess oil while working to soothe irritated skin. We’ve tried out these patches and they surprisingly stay on even when we’re moving around all day. As a punny product description teases, “Spot demons? Take them down immediately.”
Anua, Zero-Cast Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50
One of the bestselling products from the Anua x KPop Demon Hunters collaboration is this SPF 50 sunscreen, inspired by Rumi.
The sunscreen is safe and gentle on all skin types and the “zero cast” formula blends evenly without leaving a white film or sticky residue. The sunscreen comes in a Rumi-themed box. Amazon says more than 8,000 people have purchased this sunscreen in the last month alone.
Anua Invisible Matte Finish Sunscreen
This sunscreen is inspired by Mira and features a clear, gel-style formula that applies easily without leaving a white cast.
In addition to offering protection from UVA and UVB rays, the sunscreen works as a makeup base. The lightweight formula, meantime, won’t clog pores or leave a greasy finish, and we’ve found that it lasts for hours without needing re-application.
Anua Invisible Matte Finish Sunscreen
Specially designed for the face, this SPF 50 sunscreen is inspired by Zoey and can be used on its own or work under your makeup.
This is another clear sunscreen from Anua, and the brand says the formula features a “blurry” effect that improves the look of your skin. I personally love this sunscreen because it helps to even out my oily skin tone, leaving behind a smooth, matte finish.
Anua Invisible Glow Sun Stick
It’s not just the HUNTR/X girls who are part of the Anua collab — the beauty brand even has a sunscreen “Glow Stick” inspired by Derpy, the supernatural tiger from the film.
This pocket-sized SPF stick makes it easy to apply sunscreen to your face and body, delivering sun protection with just a few simple swipes.
Anua says the KPop Demon Hunters collection is “focused on fostering skin’s glow, protection and recovery” so that fans and users will be “shining like you were born to be.”
Get the collab for up to 25% off during Amazon Prime Day, which runs till June 26. As with all Amazon deals though, pricing could change at any time so we recommend adding your favorite products to cart now while the discount is still live. The Anua K-beauty products are just one of a number of Prime Day beauty deals this year. See more beauty, makeup and skincare deals here.
The collection is inspired by the characters, colors and “key moments” from the hit K-pop musical, which took home an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song.
Brandon Flowers is stepping back into the scene as a solo artist with the announcement of his forthcoming album Thrasher.
This is The Killers frontman’s first solo project in more than a decade. On Tuesday (June 23), Flowers revealed that the 10-track project will arrive Aug. 21 via Island Records. This marks his first solo full-length release since 2015’s The Desired Effect. Alongside the announcement, Flowers confirmed that the album’s lead single, “Plans,” will be released Friday.
Related
According to a press release, the album explores family relationships, loss, memory and life in a small town through a collection of songs. Several tracks are inspired directly by Flowers’ personal experiences, including reflections on loved ones, childhood memories, and the picturesque landscapes that formed him long before he achieved international success.
Thrasher traces its roots to earlier moments in Flowers’ life, when he lived in Nephi, Utah, during his childhood before eventually fronting one of rock’s most iconic bands. In the press release, Flowers reveals that he drew inspiration from the music he grew up hearing with his father, including classic country storytellers such as Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my way back to my father’s music — ‘Country-Western’ (as he called it) — and discovered that the stories I carry really feel most at home in the skin of this beautiful American tradition,” Flowers said in a statement.
In the official album trailer, Flowers is seen taking a scenic drive in his car and revisiting places that connect him to his roots in Utah. In the video, he explains the reason for releasing Thrasher, making it clear that he’s not shying away from the genre that made him famous, but rather experimenting with others.
“This is not me running away from rock and roll. I don’t want to replace my old songs. I simply found room for more,” he says in the video.
Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, Thrasher reveals Flowers’ affinity for country and Americana influences, which have been modestly threaded through his songwriting for years. Produced by Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado, who are longtime collaborators, the album also features contributions from guitarist David Rawlings, pedal steel player Bruce Bouton and harmonica player Charlie McCoy.
Thrasher track list:
- Does It Ever Cross Your Mind?
- One Of Us
- Tiger’s Blood
- Plans
- Paradise
- Miss America
- Angel
- The Red Ground
- In A Heartbeat
- An American Dream
Watch the trailer for Thrasher:
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.
Prime Day starts Tuesday (June 23) and goes until Friday (June 26). During the four-day shopping event, Amazon marks down nearly every category — including sound gear and home audio. Now is the best time to upgrade your home audio setup, or just grab a new pair of noise-canceling headphones for your daily commute for cheap.
With savings up to a whopping 75%, Billboard Shopping rounded up the best deals on all sorts of tech and home audio gear for Prime Day. There are deep discounts on top brands, like Bose, Google, Beats by Dre, Razer and others. Best of all? All deals found are $100 or less, at the time of publishing.
And because these deals are during Prime Day, you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to activate the savings.
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; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day in June and Black Friday in November — and other perks. Learn more about Amazon Prime and its benefits here.
But act fast and shop now, these deals are only active for a limited time and expire by Friday (June 26) on Amazon.
Prime Day Headphone & Earbuds Deals
On sale for $34.99 (regularly $69.99) on Amazon, the JLab JBuds Sport ANC 4 True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds features more than 14 hours of wireless playback per charge.
The Beats by Dre Solo 4 Headphones come summer-ready in cloud pink, while they’re 50% off for Prime Day.
Marked down to 52% on Prime Day, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Headphones feature 40 hour of playback, active noise-canceling features, rich and clear audio quality with deep bass and on-ear music controls.
Available in navy, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones has Dolby Atoms compatibility for premium audio quality at a low price, especially since they’re on sale for 60% off their list price.
Priced at $99.99 (regularly $149.99) on Amazon, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE Earbuds rival Apple AirPods with high-quality audio, comfortable fit and feel, strong noise-canceling features and long battery life of up to 8.5 hours per charge.
The SHOKZ OpenFit Air Headphones, which are on sale for 50% off their list price, are ideal for workouts, exercising and running, thanks to this pairs water-resistant design and earhooks for a secure fit.
Prime Day Home Audio Deals
Retailing for $28.49, 43% off of the original price, the Ortizan Portable Bluetooth Speaker features Bluetooth compatibility and 3D HD stereo sound with an enhanced base, thanks to 24W total output power.
The Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker comes in sunset peach and is on sale for $99, or $60 off, a 38% savings. It’s waterproof, which is ideal for lounging around the swimming pool, comes with high-quality audio, in which Bose is know and features up to 12 hours of battery life per charge.
On sale for $99.99 (regularly $159.99) on Amazon, the Aiwa Bluetooth Home Speaker System is best for filling up a room with premium audio, while it sync to your smartphone to stream Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Pandora and other music apps.
Forget the bar! Have your own karaoke party at home with the PWBSLAI Bluetooth Karaoke Speaker, which is on sale for 32% off its list price on Amazon. It comes with two wireless microphones, booming audio and colorful lights to make your party memorable and fun.
MEVOSTO Active Bookshelf Speakers are on sale for $85.48 (regularly $129.99) on Amazon, a 34% savings. You get two speakers with this set, a remote control and high-quality audio for less than $90.
For just $99.99 (regularly $149.99) on Amazon, the Victrola Eastwood II Record Player is a fantastic turntable for those new to listening to vinyl, thanks to its simple controls, ease of use and sturdy build quality.
Prime Day Gaming Deals
Bring home one of the best games for PS5 at a deep discount. Elden Ring is on sale for 60% off for Prime Day on Amazon.
On sale for nearly 40% off, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset is a great option that’s compatible with most consoles including Xbox, PS5 and Switch along with PC and Mobile.
The official wireless gaming controller for Amazon’s cloud gaming platform, Luna, is on sale for nearly 45% off its list price — its all-time lowest price ever.
On sale for $35.61 (regularly $79.99) on Amazon, the Logitech G432 Wired Gaming Headset is fantastic for immersive and detail gaming audio, especially since it’s under $40.
Start building your wallet-friendly gaming PC with the Logitech G413 TKL SE Gaming Keyboard, which is on sale for 45% off its list price on Amazon. It’s wallet-friendly, clicky and precise, which are ideal for budget gaming.
Complete your PC gaming set up with the Logitech G502 X Wired Gaming Mouse, which is on sale for 37% off for Prime Day. The mouse is comfortable to use with grippiness and precision for online gaming.
Gaming on the go starts with the 8BitDo Lite 2 Bluetooth Gamepad, which is pocket-sized and comfortable to use. It’s compatible with Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, as well as smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth. Now on sale for $20.59 (regularly $34.99) on Amazon.
For Nintendo Switch, the newest Metroid Prime game, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, is sale for 50% off its list price for Prime Day on Amazon. Nintendo rarely discounts their games, so this deal is a steal at only $29.99.
The latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows game is on sale for nearly half off for Prime Day. This is the Xbox Series X version and an Amazon Exclusive with included skins, weapons and add-ons.
Marked down to $24.99 (regularly $49.99) on Amazon, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Tactical ED for PS5 is a great deal for Prime Day, especially since it’s the game’s all-time lowest price ever.
Prime Day Smart Home Deals
A sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa and big vibrant sound with clear vocals and deep bass. Just ask Alexa to play your favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks in seconds.
Stop intruders in their tracks with this on sale bundle of 2 motion-activated LED spotlights. Each camera turns on when they detect motion, and sound the built-in security siren with just a few taps.
Set the ultimate mood lightning in your home with with dynamic light effects and millions of color options at your fingertips.
Marked down by a whopping 74%, the Carrera Smart Glasses are a pair of black frames with smart AI features, thanks to Alexa. The glasses also have speakers to listen to your favorite music and podcasts, while looking cool and stylish.
Add Google TV to your TV for enhanced streaming with Gemini AI built-in. For Prime Day, the Google TV Streamer 4K is on sale for $74.99 (regularly $99.99) on Amazon, a 25% savings.
For a digital projector on the cheap, go with the ClokoWe Mini Projector, which has built-in streaming and can project videos up to 200 inches high. It’s on sale for $56.99 (regularly $89.99) on Amazon.
Priced at just $89.99 (regularly $149.99), the INSIGNIA 40-Inch F40 Series LED Full HD Smart Fire TV is a very good TV for bedroom, guest room or kid’s room. It even has Fire TV built-in for streaming apps, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video and others.
Want more? Shop even more Prime Day deals on Amazon below:
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
About the Author
Rudie Obias is a Commerce Editor at Penske Media Corporation, where he covers music, gaming, men’s fashion and lifestyle, travel, sports and entertainment, and tech shopping coverage for Billboard as commerce lead, as well as Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Women’s Wear Daily and Footwear News. He first joined PMC in 2023 as a commerce writer. He regularly reports on tech and home audio.
Previously, Obias worked in commerce and partnerships with Fandom, Red Ventures, Yahoo! and Mashable, while he also graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and philosophy. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>