On Tuesday (October 15), Sphere Entertainment Co. announced the location of its second Sphere entertainment venue will be in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi’s Sphere will be a 20,000-capacity venue that will feature the same technological advancements as the original Las Vegas Sphere, which opened in 2022 with a celebrated residency by U2. The Abu Dhabi Sphere plans to host concerts and other special events year-round, much like the Las Vegas Sphere, which has featured high-profile shows by Phish, Dead & Company, and the Eagles.

Sphere Entertainment Co. originally planned to open their second venue in London, but mayor Sadiq Khan shot down those plans due to high energy concerns and the “significant light intrusion” it would bring to the city. “The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sphere Entertainment. “We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.” (Consequence of Sound)

Whitney Houston‘s first live performances in South Africa will be turned into a forthcoming live album and concert film to mark three decades since the late singer’s visit there. The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) is set to be released on November 8, 30 years to the day since Houston’s celebrated 1994 performance at Durban’s Kings Park Stadium. Houston’s set features a 10-minute version of “I Will Always Love You,” along with chart-topping hits “Saving All My Love for You,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Houston’s South Africa trip was a celebration of the end of apartheid and President Nelson Mandela’s election win, with the singer also performing in Johannesburg and Cape Town on her tour. “If you want to experience the greatest female contemporary voice of all time, you must see Whitney Houston’s South Africa Durban concert film and own the album,” said legendary music executive Clive Davis, who signed Houston to Arista as a teenager. (Rolling Stone)

During Lizzo’s appearance in a panel at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit on Monday (October 14), the music superstar updated fans on what she has been up to lately. Lizzo revealed that she’s not actually “taking a gap year & protecting my peace” as she previously claimed in an Instagram post from August. Lizzo disclosed that she is currently hard at work on new music as well as growing her Yitty shapewear brand. “‘Gap year’? Girl, who said ‘gap year’?” Lizzo said during the summit. “I launched my company, Yitty, in 2022, at the same time as my album, Special. As soon as I stepped down home from tour – I may not be as public-facing – but I went straight to Yitty headquarters, and I’ve just been working, working, working. You may not see me, but I’ve been working. It ain’t a gap year, it’s a grind year.” (Billboard)

50 Cent took to Instagram on Tuesday (October 15) to announce plans for his first ever Las Vegas Residency at the end of 2024 and start of 2025. 50 Cent: In Da Club Vegas residency will consist of six shows scheduled for this December and January of next year, all taking place at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. 50’s performances will take place on December 27, 28, 30, and 31, and January 3 and 4. “I always bring the energy, and Las Vegas is the perfect spot to create an unforgettable experience for my fans,” 50 said in a statement. “We’re talking big production, surprises and the ultimate New Year’s Eve party for my Vegas residency.” The Grammy-winning rapper added on Instagram, “My first Vegas residency is going to be an experience, you don’t wanna miss this!” (Billboard)

During Good Morning America on Tuesday (October 15) – and on Instagram immediately afterwards – Taylor Swift announced that she has partnered with Target to release her self-published The Official Eras Tour Book, along with the first ever physical releases of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology on vinyl and CD. All three exclusive releases will be available at Target stores beginning on Black Friday, November 29. Swift’s hardcover book will feature over 500 photographs from her record-setting The Eras Tour, along with what Swift calls “my own personal reflections” and “never-before-seen behind the scenes photos.” The expanded Anthology edition of TTPD will be released on a 4LP colored vinyl set and CD for the very first time and will feature 35-tracks. “This tour has been the most wondrous experience and I knew I wanted to commemorate the memories we made together in a special way,” Swift wrote. (Billboard)

Jin of BTS announced on Monday (October 14) that he will release his debut solo album, Happy, on November 15. Jin is the last of the seven BTS members to put out their own solo project. The 31-year-old K-pop sensation’s forthcoming album will feature six tracks that are all inspired by his “journey to discover true happiness,” filled with an underlying hope “that those who listen to the album will also find joy.” The album’s press release goes on to say that, “Happy is a genuine, heartwarming gesture that invites listeners to join him on a journey to find happiness, offering them a sense of strength and comfort in their day-to-day lives.” Back in June, Jin became the first BTS member to complete his mandatory 18-month service in the South Korean military, which he celebrated by personally hugging 1,000 of his fans. (Billboard)

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 14th week. The crossover hit became Shaboozey’s first career No. 1 in July, and the track now has the second longest rookie reign at the top of the charts in history, behind only the 19-week run by Lil Nas X’s 2019 debut, “Old Town Road” (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus). Sabrina Carpenter again places three songs in the Top 10 for a seventh consecutive week, as “Espresso” jumps up one spot to No. 4, “Taste” moves up two slots to No. 7, and “Please Please Please” moves up one spot to No. 9. Elsewhere in the Billboard Top 10, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” stays at No. 2, Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, moves up a slot to No. 3, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” jumps up one spot to No. 5, Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” slides up one to No. 6, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” sticks at No. 8, and Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” moves up two spots to No. 10. (Billboard)

During an interview with Elle for their cover story on Kesha, Chappell Roan discussed how the chart-topping “Tik Tok” singer helped her following her record-breaking Lollapalooza performance back in August. Roan performed in front of “the biggest daytime set” in the festival’s history, which was slightly overwhelming for the rising pop superstar, but Kesha was able to connect with Roan on a personal level following her show. “Kesha was so lovely to me after my Lollapalooza set,” Roan said. “Because with that huge of a crowd, maybe only five other people there understood what that’s like. Kesha came to talk to me after, and it felt like a big sister was helping me through it.” Kesha was also supportive towards another young pop singer that day, Renée Rapp. “Me and Reneé were crying because we felt like we were seen in a way we never had been before,” Roan shared. “Kesha has always stood up for women and what she believes in, and that’s very inspiring.” (NME)   

Megan Thee Stallion took to Instagram on Monday (October 14) to announce the upcoming release of her first-ever documentary, In Her Words. The music film premieres on Prime Video on October 31, timed perfectly to coincide with Meg’s annual Hottieween celebration. “Hotties my documentary is out Oct 31st💜 I’m nervous and excited for yall to see it butttt it’s finally here 🥹,” Megan captioned her post, which also shared the promotional image from the documentary featuring the subtitles, “Her Story. Her Life.” In Her Words was directed by Nneka Onuorah, who previously helmed the Lizzo series Watch Out for the Big Grrrls and the Nigerian LGTBQ+ documentary, The Legend of the Underground. A synopsis for the film promises “unprecedented access to the multi-faceted woman behind the persona,” as it captures “the Houston native’s journey on the road to stardom as she tenaciously navigates fame, grief, pressure, and success.” (Rolling Stone)

During a recent episode of TMZ’s Swift-Tea Podcast, Taylor Swift impersonator Olivia Mojic disclosed that her Los Angeles-based group, Blank Space, earns thousands of dollars for their Swift tribute shows, with their top-paying gig paying them $18,000. Mojic revealed that their shows have been going so well as of late that she doesn’t “have to go to my normal people job anymore.” Mojic has concerns about how Swift might respond to their shows, but the band performs their tributes out of love for Taylor’s music and wanting to share that feeling with fans. “I don’t want to get in trouble,” she said. “I want to always do the right thing. I’m doing this to give. There’s so much [positivity]. We do photos after every show with all the little kids. It’s just a fun thing, and I would never do anything that would take away from someone else. That’s not why I’m doing this.” (Consequence of Sound)

In order to share resources and show support to the mission of World Mental Health Day, Paramore’s Hayley Williams took to Instagram on Thursday (October 10) to share her own personal struggle with depression. Williams shared the post via her hair dye cosmetics brand account, Good Dye Young, where she opened up about her own mental health issues. “In 2018, after years of struggling with my mind and some frustrating health issues, I finally got diagnosed with depression and a specific kind of PTSD,” Williams wrote. “It can seem pretty impossible to thrive, holistically, in the modern world. I hate thinking about how many people are stuck without answers or any tangible help. Small wins do help. I’ve always turned to music, some form of community… but sometimes you just need more support than these things can give.” Williams provided links to Inclusive Therapists, The Trevor Project, and Therapy for Black Girls for anyone who needs help with their own mental health struggles. (Rolling Stone)

Jack Harlow has two hometown shows planned in Louisville, Kentucky during Thanksgiving this year. The chart-topping rapper announced details of the fourth installment of his No Place Like Home concert series on Instagram on Thursday (October 10), with shows scheduled to take place on November 28 and 29. These special performances will feature Harlow collaborating with the Louisville Orchestra at the distinguished Whitney Hall at The Kentucky Center. Proceeds from No Place Like Home 2024 will also benefit the non-profit Louisville Orchestra, whose work focuses on providing Kentuckians with access to music.

“Jack Harlow is an icon and has already established himself as a Louisville legend,” said Teddy Abrams, the Louisville Orchestra’s music director. “We’ve worked together to build a unique, incredibly special set that shows Jack’s full range of artistry. I’m honored to build this program with Jack for our community, and I can’t wait for Louisville to hear what we’ve been creating together!” (Uproxx)

During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Billie Eilish was asked if she feels threatened by the success of fellow pop stars Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter. The multiple Grammy and Oscar-winning musician responded: “Are you kidding me? I’m so happy for these b**ches. It’s a crazy world when you get to the level they’re experiencing right now, and they’re doing great. Fans are drawn to them because they’re f**king awesome.”

That interaction got a personal response from Charli XCX, who was busy premiering her new remix album, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, during a special event on Thursday at the Storm King Art Center in New York’s Hudson Valley. Charli wrote on X on Saturday (October 12), “pausing from brat completely different chaos to just say lol this is a crazy question !” making light of the media’s ridiculous tendency to try and pit successful women against each other, which Billie completely rejected while showing support instead. (Complex)

During an appearance at the Bloomberg Screentime conference on Thursday (October 10), Snoop Dogg shared some exciting new details that will get music fans even more excited about his forthcoming new album, Missionary. Snoop revealed a couple of big name special guests that will be featured on his long-awaited record, which is due out sometime in November. “I got a feature from Jelly Roll and Sting,” Snoop revealed. “I’m so happy that me and Sting have a record that’s so good.” Snoop is also reconnecting with seven-time Grammy Award-winning rapper/producer Dr. Dre on Missionary, as the two hip-hop legends are once again working on a record together at long last. “1993 was the last time he produced a whole Snoop Dogg album,” Snoop said. “So this is a reunion, and it's a collaboration between two friends who genuinely love each other. We know we’re better together.” (Rolling Stone)

Coldplay’s Moon Music debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 Albums chart this week, their fifth No. 1 album of their celebrated career. This marks Coldplay’s first chart-topper in over ten years, while also representing the UK rock band’s biggest total sales week since 2015, and their best vinyl sales week ever. Elsewhere in the Billboard 200 Top 10, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet drops one spot to No. 2, after spending four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1. Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess falls one slot to No.3, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time stays at No. 4, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft is remains at No. 5, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department moves up one spot to No. 6, Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion drops a slot to No.7, Future’s Mixtape Pluto falls five spots to No. 8, Noah Kahan’s Stick Season drops one slot to No. 9, and Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album stays at No. 10. (Billboard) 

Foster the People are hitting the road in 2025 on their Paradise State of Mind Tour. The upcoming 23-date jaunt is in support of the 2024 album, Paradise State of Mind, which was the first studio record in over seven years from the Grammy-nominated L.A. indie pop band. Foster the People’s tour kicks off on January 25 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, then hits up major music markets throughout North America, before finishing up on March 6 at the House of Blues in Dallas. Good Neighbors will serve as the opening act for all dates on the Paradise State of Mind Tour. This Friday (October 11), Foster the People will also be performing during the second weekend of the Austin City Limits Festival, joining fellow Friday night headliners Chris Stapleton, Blink-182, Leon Bridges, Carín León, and Norah Jones. (Consequence of Sound)

During a new interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Charli XCX opened up about her current friendship with the 1975’s Matty Healy, the bandmate of her fiancé, George Daniel. The 1975 are featured on Charli’s new remix album, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, where they collaborate with electronic musician Jon Hopkins on a reworked version of “I might say something stupid.” Charli admitted she wanted to work with the 1975 frontman for a while now. “I really wanted him to do the song. Even before being with George — years and years ago — I’ve always been such a fan of [The 1975’s] work. I just really enjoy people who take a risk in terms of what they’re putting out there artistically.” Healy is “like my brother now,” Charli teased. “I have an endless amount of respect for him as a songwriter and him as a person. But I sometimes want to strangle him.” (Billboard)

Shawn Mendes took to X on Wednesday (October 9) to announce that the release date for his forthcoming album, Shawn, will be pushed back one month. The record was originally supposed to drop on October 18, but the new release date for Shawn is now set for November 15. “My team and i have decided to push the album release date to November 15th. We just need a little bit more time to bring some new inspiration and ideas to life ♥️,” Mendes wrote. “I love you guys thank you for being so patient, I can’t wait to see you guys at the next few shows.” The new release date for Shawn falls one day after Mendes’ concert film, For Friends And Family Only, makes its premiere during a one-night only “limited theatrical event.” Mendes' intimate tour where he is performing Shawn from start to finish continues with a sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Monday, October 14. (Billboard)

Dr. Charles Sophy filed a lawsuit against Dr. Dre (born Andre Young) on Wednesday (October 9) in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The divorce psychotherapist alleges that Dre subjected him to “systematic and malicious” forms of “unbearable harassment” following his work mediating the dissolution of the hip-hop legend’s decades-long marriage to his now ex-wife, Nicole Young. The lawsuit alleges that instead of using the mediation process as a form of growth, “Young decided to take his frustrations about the mediation out on Dr. Sophy” in a “nearly year-long sustained campaign of late-night texts, threats of intimidation and violence, and homophobic rhetoric.”

Dre’s threats became so severe that Sophy feared for his life and took to wearing a bulletproof vest for protection. The lawsuit includes allegations of civil harassment and a threat of violence based on his sexual orientation, with Sophy seeking a court order prohibiting contact and compensatory damages of at least $10 million. (Rolling Stone)

During a hearing on Thursday (October 10) the judge set the trial date for Sean “Diddy” Combs for May 5, 2025. The 54-year-old music producer and entertainment mogul was previously taken into custody in Manhattan on September 16, following a grand jury indictment on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors in the trial have stated that they believe their case will take three weeks to argue, while Combs’ lawyers believe that they will need a week to present their defense.

Combs’ legal team also claimed in an October 9 court filing that federal authorities have leaked evidence to the media, including the surveillance video of Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016. Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo alleges that there have been “a series of unlawful government leaks, which have led to damaging, highly prejudicial pre-trial publicity that can only taint the jury pool and deprive Mr. Combs of his right to a fair trial.” (Us Weekly)