On Wednesday (June 2), Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, potentially facing up to 20 years in prison, while being found not guilty of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The split verdict prompted a jubilant reaction from Combs, who pumped his fist and mouthed “thank you” to the jurors. Members of his family shed tears of relief following the verdict, and they were shown leaving the courthouse amidst chants of “Freedom!” Following the gruelling eight-week trial, the defense advocated for Combs to be released on a $1 million bond before his sentencing date on the prostitution charges, while prosecutors felt he should continue to be held due to the severity of the conviction. The judge later ruled that Combs will remain in jail until his sentencing (with the date yet to be determined), citing his history of domestic violence. (Variety)

During Green Day’s performance in Luxembourg on Monday night (June 30), the punk legends invited a fan on stage to play their 5x-platinum 1997 hit, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." The young man surprised the band and everyone in the crowd by playing Oasis' "Wonderwall" instead. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, realizing the switch, promptly snatched his guitar back from the fan, who was quickly ushered off the stage. “Nice try, nice try,” Armstrong said, before he launched into “Good Riddance” on his own. This incident is one of a few minor hiccups during Green Day's summer European tour, following an earlier incident where Armstrong had to pause the set to admonish a fan who was repeatedly spraying the singer with a water gun. Green Day have a few more gigs left in Europe, followed by a series of scheduled shows in North and South America through September. (Rolling Stone)

In their first collective WeVerse stream in almost three years, BTS confirmed their reunion and shared plans for a new group album and world tour in 2026. “We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music,” BTS shared. “Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re also planning a world tour alongside the new album. We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are.” This announcement comes after a lengthy hiatus that allowed members to fulfill their mandatory military service in South Korea and pursue solo projects. In addition to the reunion news, BTS’ record label Big Hit announced on Monday (June 30) that the first-ever live album from the K-pop group is arriving on July 18. Permission to Dance On Stage — Live will feature live performances of their hits, including Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Dynamite” and “Butter,” recorded on BTS’ 2021-2022 Permission to Dance On Stage Tour. (Rolling Stone)

LL Cool J delves into the birth and evolution of rap in New York City in the new trailer for the upcoming docuseries, Hip-Hop Was Born Here. The five-part show features interviews with rap luminaries such as Method Man, Grandmaster Caz, Roxanne Shante, and Big Daddy Kane, while providing a historical and musical tour of the five boroughs, showcasing how the city shaped the genre. The trailer features LL visiting the birthplace of hip-hop, with the rap legend making a pilgrimage to the Bronx park where DJ Kool Herc set up his equipment and threw his groundbreaking first parties. Other NYC-centric stories will be featured in each episode, while also exploring the global impact of rap music. Hip-Hop Was Born Here will premiere on July 22 on Paramount+, with the docuseries hosted, executive produced, and co-created by LL Cool J, in collaboration with NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. (Rolling Stone)

Good Charlotte debuted their brand new single, "Rejects," the band's first new song in five years. The track is the lead offering from their upcoming album, Motel Du Cap, which is set for release on August 8. This marks their first new studio record in seven years, following 2018’s Generation Rx. Joel and Benji Madden co-wrote “Rejects” with Jordan Fish (ex-Bring Me the Horizon) and Zakk Cervini, who also co-produced the track. The song is also accompanied by a claymation music video directed by Erik Rojas and Lenna Onto. “I don’t even think “Rejects” is necessarily the most obvious single type song, but it’s the one we feel like people should hear first,” says Joel Madden. “We think it’s a really great start and a representation of the record and the music.” To celebrate the release, Good Charlotte performed "Rejects" on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday (June 25), and they will also appear on Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series in New York City on August 8. (Consequence of Sound)

Coldplay's 2000 song, "Sparks," is making its surprising debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. The track jumps all the way up to No. 93 due to a viral sensation on TikTok, 25 years after its original release on the British band’s 9x-platinum, Grammy-winning debut album, Parachutes. The social media resurgence was triggered by frontman Chris Martin's emotional performance of the track during a recent concert at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on June 6 and 7, following his public breakup with actress Dakota Johnson. “Sparks” has never officially been released as a single, but it continues to be a fan favorite, with the song soundtracking more than 500,000 clips on TikTok as of late. “Sparks” earns Coldplay their 27th career entry on the Hot 100, and first chart appearance since 2024’s “We Pray,” featuring Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna, and Tini. The renewed interest in "Sparks" has also caused Parachutes to surge back onto the Billboard 200 chart at No. 169. (Billboard)

On Saturday (June 21), lifelong Dodgers fan Ice Cube was honored with his very own bobblehead day during a game at Dodgers Stadium. Despite the home team’s loss to the Washington Nationals, the event drew a record-breaking attendance of 54,154 fans, surpassing the previous attendance record for the 2025 season. The bobblehead features the hip-hop legend sporting a matching Dodgers jersey and jacket with the team’s branding. In addition to the limited-edition collectible, an Ice Cube-themed drone show was organized by the Dodgers to honor the rapper. While Ice Cube couldn’t attend the event himself, TMZ caught up with the N.W.A.-alum at the airport. “It felt great,” Cube said of the bobblehead tribute. “Amazing — something I never expected to have. Sorry I can’t be there.” Cube performed before Game 2 of the 2024 World Series, with the Dodgers ultimately winning the championship against the Yankees, and he brought the World Series trophy into the stadium during opening day of the 2025 season. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance at a benefit concert in Nashville on Tuesday night (June 24), with the music superstar performing "Shake It Off" on an acoustic guitar at the 1,200 capacity Brooklyn Bowl. The impromptu performance took place at the end of Kane Brown's set, stunning the audience and delighting fans who had gathered for the 'Tight Ends & Friends' charity event, which was hosted by Swift's boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Swift used a guitar she borrowed from Chase Rice, who performed earlier that evening, playing a stripped-down version of her lead single from her Grammy-winning album, 1989. She took a moment mid-song to praise Brown’s contribution to her performance, “Honestly, have you ever seen a tambourine played like this? This is fantastic work over here by Mr. Kane Brown.” Brown later shared a photo of him with Swift and Kelce on Instagram, joking in the caption, “When you think you’re the special guest BUT you’re not 😂.” This impromptu performance marks Swift's first live appearance since The Eras Tour wrapped up in December. (Variety) 

U2 guitarist The Edge, who has lived in Ireland for over six decades, was officially granted Irish citizenship on Monday (June 23). The Edge was bornDavid Howell Evansin Essex, England to Welsh parents, though he was raised in Ireland. “I guess, you know, I’m a little tardy with the paper work,” joked the 63-year-old musician, who added, “I’ve been living in Ireland now since I was one year old. But the time is right. And I couldn’t be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing.” The Edge shared his citizenship ceremony with thousands of others, which the rock icon described as “a monumental day for all of us.” The Edge praised Ireland for “showing real leadership right now in the world, and it couldn’t come at a better moment for me, so I am just so happy to be at this point to be in even deeper connection with my homeland.” (Rolling Stone)

Brandy and Monica just announced that they are launching their first-ever co-headlining The Boy Is Mine Tour, with special guests Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, and American Idol winner Jamal Roberts. The 24-date arena tour kicks off in Cincinnati on October 16, and includes stops in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, before concluding in Houston on December 7. The tour is named after their iconic 1998 duet, “The Boy Is Mine,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 13 weeks, earning them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. In 2024, Brandy and Monica teamed up with Ariana Grande for “The Boy Is Mine (Remix),” which scored them a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.“This really is a full-circle moment,” Brandy said in a statement. “To share the stage all these years later is bigger than a reunion—it’s a celebration of growth, sisterhood, and the love our fans have given us from day one.” Presale for the tour begins on Thursday (June 26), with general on-sale starting Friday (June 27). (Variety)

On Monday (June 23), Maroon 5 announced the details of their upcoming eighth studio album, Love Is Like, which is set to be released on August 15 via Interscope. The band also revealed that the record will be accompanied by a 23-date U.S. arena tour, which kicks-off on July 11 in Endicott, N.Y., hitting major music markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Nashville, Houston, Chicago, and New York City, before finishing up on November 25 in Detroit. Claire Rosinkranz will be the opening act for the entire tour. A fan club presale begins on June 25, with general onsale starting on June 27. The band also dropped their latest single, “All Night,” on Monday, with a music video arriving on Thursday (June 26). While the official tracklist for Love Is Like hasn’t been shared yet, it will include the new single as well as the recent collaboration with Lisa of BLACKPINK, “Priceless,” which debuted at No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Billboard)

Seven years after her Grammy-winning debut album Invasion Of Your Privacy, Cardi B has announced the upcoming release of her highly-anticipated sophomore record. The rapper revealed that her new album Am I The Drama? will arrive on September 19th. Cardi shared the album cover on social media, which depicts her posing amid a flock of crows. In an Instagram post, Cardi expressed her eagerness for the album's release, saying "The time is here. The time is now." She recently informed fans that she had delivered the completed album to her label. Last week, Cardi premiered the new single "Outside" during a performance at the Cannes Lions festival, which includes references to her ex-husband Offset and her current partner, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The album's release comes after Cardi has dropped numerous singles and guest features over the past several years. (Variety)