Live Nation Entertainment is building its first venue in São Paulo, partnering with Brazilian urban development group Cidade Center Norte on a 21,000-capacity arena slated to open in 2028.

The project will be developed through a Live Nation-led joint venture with Cidade Center Norte, and will sit within the company’s planned urban living district in the city’s North Zone.

Live Nation says São Paulo Arena will be Brazil’s first purpose-built, world-class arena and the largest indoor live entertainment venue in South America. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.

The economics are substantial. According to projections from Oxford Economics cited by Live Nation, the arena is expected to generate roughly US$159.9 million in direct attendee spending and more than US$311.2 million in total annual economic impact across Brazil by its fifth year of operation, while supporting approximately 1,800 jobs annually. Once operational, the venue is projected to host more than 200 concerts and sporting events a year and draw over 2 million attendees annually.

“São Paulo deserves an arena that reflects the energy, passion and cultural influence of one of the world’s great cities,” Live Nation president/CEO Michael Rapino said in a statement. “São Paulo Arena will be the new home for Brazilian and international artists and the fans who make this city one of the most exciting live entertainment markets.”

Cidade Center Norte CEO Flavio Fernandes called the venue “a dream project coming to life,” framing it as an extension of the company’s commitment to the city’s North Zone alongside its existing malls, exhibition space, hospitality, residential and commercial holdings.

The arena is being designed by Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house design and development arm, whose credits include Austin’s Moody Center and New York’s Barclays Center. Plans call for three seating levels, a dedicated VIP suite tier, climate control and acoustics engineered to limit noise impact on surrounding neighborhoods, plus a 2,000-space parking garage, rideshare and taxi zones and direct links to major roadways and public transit.

The investment deepens Live Nation’s already significant Brazilian footprint. The company promotes tours in the market for artists including Madonna, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Shakira and The Weeknd, alongside Brazilian acts such as Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia and Djavan. It also holds a majority stake in Rock World, the Brazilian company behind Rock in Rio and The Town and the producer of Lollapalooza Brasil.

Ariana Grande addressed her decision to step back from public life directly to fans during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Chicago on Monday night (Aug. 3), pushing back on the idea that outside criticism had driven the choice.

The speech followed a statement issued by a representative for Grande on Sunday (Aug. 2), first reported by People, confirming she will take a break from public-facing work once the tour wraps Sept. 1 — and that she has withdrawn from a planned West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George, in which she was set to star opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.

Onstage, Grande told the crowd she wanted to speak for herself. “Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,” she said. “So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much.”

She was explicit that the decision predated the recent commentary. “The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” she said. “It is something that I had decided. It’s a plan that I had quietly made a long time ago, and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”

Grande also directly countered the suggestion that negativity had soured her experience. “I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f–k opposite,” she said. “Nothing has been ruined. Multiple things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.”

She closed by framing the tour and her new album as the parts she intends to keep. “The rest of that s–t is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it,” she said, calling the run “the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life, and so has putting out Petal.”

The remarks land days after Petal arrived July 31. The album’s lead single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her 10th career leader, tying her for the 10th-most No. 1s in the chart’s history. Its title track followed as the second single, arriving with a short-film music video in which Grande takes a chainsaw to critics echoing real-world commentary about her appearance.

Grande has three more Chicago dates before a 10-show London run closes the tour between Aug. 15 and Sept. 1. She next appears on screen in Focker-in-Law, opening Nov. 25.

Without even mentioning it by name, BTS sparked a major debate about the new best Asian pop music performance category at the 2027 Grammys with their bombshell decision last week not to submit music from their latest album, ARIRANG, for next year’s awards show.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith take a closer look at that decision and at the category, and what it will look like without BTS in it.

We also discuss Madonna’s new “Love Sensation” remix with Kylie Minogue, which the pair previewed with a WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 performance over the weekend before the song’s arrival later this week. Plus: Ariana Grande’s rep announced over the weekend that the pop star/actress plans to step back following the end of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, after Friday’s release of her latest album, Petal. Listen to our full conversation below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem is back at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for the first time in nearly seventh months. Plus, Charli xcx’s new Music, Fashion, Film debuts in the top three, and on the Billboard Hot 100, the entire top five are country songs for the first time ever, as Wallen’s new single “Been by Now” debuts in the top five, joining four other country carryovers.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

Joe Jackson‘s life is set to be spotlit in a new documentary series from BLK Prime, with son Marlon Jackson helping narrate and develop the program.

Per a post made by The Jacksons on Instagram, the series will be titled The Manager, The Mythology, The Legend, and it’s anticipated to be an inside look into the man who guided the Jackson family’s rise from Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom. The season is set to be eight episodes.

In a statement shared with Page Six, Marlon said the series aims to present a more personal portrait of his father.

“Our father’s life is replete with triumphs and challenges, and we firmly believe that this series will offer a distinctive and accurate portrayal of the man behind our family,” he said. “We are thrilled to share my father’s indelible legacy with fans worldwide, granting them an intimate glimpse into the remarkable individual we knew and loved.”

The docuseries is expected to explore Joe Jackson’s early life, his ambition, personal struggles and the role he played in building one of music’s most successful family dynasties. Promotional information also indicates that the series will revisit the Jackson 5’s relationship with Motown, the pressures surrounding the family’s atomic rise and the bonds that molded their journey.

Joe Jackson managed the careers of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson as the Jackson 5 emerged as one of Motown’s biggest acts, later helping launch daughter Janet Jackson‘s early entertainment career as well.

The announcement comes as revived attention has been placed on Joe Jackson’s complicated legacy following the release of the Michael Jackson biopic Michael. While widely recognized for helping shape the careers of his children, Joe also faced longstanding allegations of physical and emotional abuse from several members of the family. He acknowledged using strict discipline while denying many of the accusations made against him.

BLK Prime says the new series will offer viewers a closer look at Joe Jackson’s life from the perspective of those who knew him personally. No premiere date has been announced, though the streaming platform says more details about production and casting will be revealed in the coming months.