Sydney metalcore outfit Ocean Sleeper have signed a new global recording deal with Rise Records and BMG, the band and label announced Friday (May 15). Their new single “Break the Cycle” is out now as the first release under the partnership.
The signing represents an expansion of Ocean Sleeper’s existing relationship with BMG, which previously partnered with the band across their debut album Don’t Leave Me This Way and EPs Maybe Death Is All I Need and Is It Better Feeling Nothing. The addition of Rise Records — home to Spiritbox, Sleeping With Sirens, Sum 41, Polyphia, Dance Gavin Dance and Memphis May Fire — gives the band a significant new foothold in the international heavy music market.
“We could not be prouder to announce we have signed a new global record deal with Rise Records & BMG,” the band said in a statement. “The essence of this band has always been independent and driven by a DIY attitude, but we are ready to level up with a team who we trust with our vision. Partnering with both a powerhouse in the industry and a label behind all our core favourite bands is an absolute honour.”
Heath Johns, President of Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia at BMG, called Ocean Sleeper “one of Australian heavy music’s best kept secrets” and said the combined resources of Rise Records and BMG would be taking the band “to every corner of the planet.” Sean Heydorn, SVP of Rise Records, praised the band’s “relentless work ethic, creative ambition, and a deep connection with their audience,” adding that Ocean Sleeper have “emerged as one of Australia’s standout metalcore bands.”
Since forming, Ocean Sleeper have built a devoted international following through sold-out headline tours in Australia and the U.S., appearances at Good Things Festival, and supports alongside Northlane, Parkway Drive, Polaris, Make Them Suffer and Thornhill. The band joins a BMG Australia and New Zealand roster that includes Chet Faker, Dope Lemon, Crowded House, Hockey Dad, The Cat Empire, Pacific Avenue and Ladyhawke.
Baker Boy headlined the second night of NBA House Australia on Friday (May 15), closing out the evening session at The Timber Yard in Melbourne with a live performance — marking one of the more unexpected but fitting intersections of Australian music and American basketball culture in recent memory.
The Northern Territory rapper and dancer, whose real name is Danzal Baker, took the stage at 8:30 p.m. as part of the NBA’s inaugural Australian fan experience, which is running across four days from May 14–17 at the Port Melbourne venue.
The 6,000-square-metre space features playoff viewing parties, basketball challenges, an NBA 2K26 gaming zone, streetwear showcases, photo opportunities with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and appearances from NBA players.
Friday’s programming also included appearances from Atlanta Hawks center and Australian NBA representative Jock Landale, who participated in a “Courtside Stories” fan engagement session at 12:30 p.m., and four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, who appeared for crossover appearances in the afternoon before hosting another “Courtside Stories” session and photo opportunities in the evening. The Sacramento Kings Dance Team and Dunk Team also performed across the day.
NBA House Australia is headlined across the weekend by All-Stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cousins, who are appearing across the event for meet-and-greets, fan sessions and scheduled programming.
Jackson Jr. said ahead of the event: “I know Australian fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and I look forward to celebrating the excitement of the NBA Playoffs with them.”
The NBA appearance comes during a strong stretch for Baker Boy. The six-time ARIA Award-winner recently wrapped a 10-date Australian album tour behind his second record DJANDJAY and has been debuting new anthem “CURSE” in his live sets ahead of the forthcoming DJANDJAY (Deluxe), due later this year via Island Records/Universal Music Australia.
“Everyone has been going mad for it,” Baker Boy said of the track. “You know you got something good when people haven’t ever heard the track before, but you can see the whole crowd bouncing to it.”
Written and produced in Melbourne by Baker Boy alongside longtime collaborators Pip Norman (Troye Sivan, Missy Higgins) and Rob Amoruso (G Flip, Thelma Plum), “CURSE” also features acclaimed Toronto-based songwriter and producer WondaGurl (Rihanna, Travis Scott, SZA), who joined the sessions as part of the inaugural ARIA Collab Initiative.
Who will take home the top prizes on Sunday (May 17) during the ACM Awards?
This year, women lead the nominations, with Megan Moroney at the head of this year’s slate of nominees with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight, and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven nominations each. This also marks the second consecutive year that a female solo artist leads the nominations (last year, Langley was the top-nominated artist, with eight nominations).
Wilson and Moroney are up against Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen for the coveted entertainer of the year accolade. If Combs wins, he’ll secure the ACM’s triple crown, as he has also previously taken home the new male artist of the year and male artist of the year accolades. Meanwhile, if Wilson wins, she would join Carrie Underwood as the only woman to win the entertainer of the year trophy three times, and would be the first woman to win it three consecutive years.
Several early winners have already been revealed, with Tucker Wetmore earning the new male artist of the year title, Avery Anna earning the new female artist of the year title, the music video for Stephen Wilson Jr.’s “Cuckoo” winning visual media of the year, and Jessie Jo Dillon winning songwriter of the year.
Shania Twain will host this year’s awards show, which will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will stream live via Prime Video for the fifth consecutive year.
Here are Billboard’s predictions on who will emerge victorious in select categories, from Melinda Newman (executive editor, West Coast/Country) and Jessica Nicholson (associate editor, Country).
Drake returns by releasing three new albums ‘Iceman,’ ‘Maid of Honour’ and ‘Habibti.’ There are references to BTS and shots at DJ Khaled and LeBron James, and he reignites his feud with Kendrick Lamar through a new collaboration with Future on “Run to Atlanta” from ‘Iceman’ and more!
Tetris Kelly Drake name-drops BTS, reignites the Kendrick beef, releases three albums, and the White House got involved. Buckle up, and let’s chat Drake. So Drake just released a lot of new music, and besides name-dropping global superstars BTS on the track “Make Them Cry” that has left the fellas and their fans maybe a little confused, he also decided to bring 2024 back and his beef with K-Dot. He dropped a track that features Future, a frequent Drake collaborator who was also on a Kendrick diss track, and of course the title “Ran to Atlanta” references the famous “Not Like Us” lyric. These are tracks from the album ‘Iceman’ but he also dropped two other projects, ‘Habibti’ and ‘Maid of Honour.’ Drizzy has the opportunity to occupy the top three of the Billboard 200 next week, which has only been done in the past by Michael Jackson. Also randomly chiming in is the White House with this MAGA edit of the ‘Iceman’ cover. Any thoughts on this, Drizzy? And what’s everybody’s thoughts on the album? Let us know in the comments.
On Friday (May 15), Spotify announced that Drake has set the single-day records for most-streamed artist, album and song on the platform in 2026, thanks to his first new solo project since 2023.
The single-day 2026 album honor goes to Iceman — one of three albums the rapper dropped first thing Friday, in addition to surprise releases Maid of Honour and Habibti — and the single-day 2026 song honor is for “Make Them Cry,” the opening track on Iceman.
“On May 15th, Drake became Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2026 in a single day, ICEMAN became the most-streamed album of 2026 in a single day, and ‘Make Them Cry’ became the most-streamed song in a single day in 2026 so far,” Spotify announced across their social channels late Friday.
The trio of albums marks Drake’s first solo project since 2023’s For All the Dogs. Last year, he released Some Sexy Songs 4 U, a joint album with fellow Canadian musician PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Before the Iceman arrival, BTS’ ARIRANG became the platform’s most-streamed album in a single day in 2026 upon its release in March. Coincidentally, Drake name-drops the South Korean boy band on his new project, specifically on the Spotify-record-setting “Make Them Cry.” In an Instagram Stories clip posted by BTS’ V on Friday, he’s hanging out with J-Hope, dancing while listening to the song, when Drizzy spits, “I’m feeling like BTS, ’cause it took the whole career for me to be so discovered.” The two performers freeze and simultaneously look at the camera, stunned.
J-pop festival Zipangu has teamed up with sponsor Xbox for a fashion collaboration with Fast & Furious franchise actor Sung Kang. The exclusive collaboration – in partnership with LA-based AAPI-led lifestyle brand UPRISERS LAB – is tied to the upcoming global release of the video game Forza Horizon 6, out Tuesday.
The collection is launching in conjunction with the inaugural Zipangu event on Saturday at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Zipangu is being billed as “the largest Japanese music event on U.S. soil devoted to Japanese music and culture,” according to promoters Goldenvoice and Cloud Nine. The One-day festival will feature performances from Ado, ATARASHII GAKKO!, CHANMINA, HANA, MAN WITH A MISSION, Yuki Chiba and 10-FEET.
The collection features two exclusive jacket styles constructed from upcycled Japanese selvedge denim and incorporates custom laser-etched design elements including cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, Japanese sports cars and Forza Horizon 6 and Zipangu branding. The Zipangu x Forza Horizon 6 Edition jacket is designed with 3M reflective silver taping running along the seams and the interior features a fully sublimated Forza Horizon 6 lining and a spec-designed controller pocket sized for Xbox and PlayStation controllers.
Courtesy AEG/Goldenvoice
The Sung Kang x Forza Horizon 6 jacket features a soft periwinkle colorway inspired by Tokyo’s evening sky, with hand-sewn 3D cherry blossom denim appliqués and sashiko-style patches laser-etched with game iconography, including Japanese drift references and Forza Horizon 6 and Zipangu logos. Only six of these jackets were made.
“I’ve always believed the things we build should tell a story, not just about where we’re going, but where we come from,” said Sung Kang in a release. “This project brings together everything I love — cars, culture and craftsmanship. It’s something that moves with you, whether you’re on the road or stepping into another world.”
Courtesy AEG/Goldenvoice
Fans can enter online through Xbox’s Instagram account for their chance to win one of the jackets. Fans attending Zipangu will also have a chance to win jackets on-site.
“Zipangu is about creating cultural connection through music, community and shared experience,” said Goldenvoice vp of regional festivals Ellen Lu in a release. “This collaboration reflects that vision – bringing together sound, style and storytelling in a way that resonates across cultures.”
Head here for more information on Zipangu and the fashion collaboration.
