Author: Rap Hooks

If your Spotify Wrapped has been riddled with the Kidz Bop Kids and “Baby Shark,” Spotify has the solution.

Announced Tuesday (Sept. 15), the streaming service is rolling out a setting that allows parents and guardians to prevent music aimed at kids and families from influencing their personal taste profile. This means that those hours of animated-movie soundtracks, nursery rhymes and children’s TV theme songs can finally stop skewing their Spotify experience.

The new option is seemingly very useful for parents who use their personal Spotify account to entertain the whole family. Maybe you’ve spent the past year listening to the same children’s movie soundtrack on every road trip, or your kid has demanded a particular song approximately 700 times. Spotify can now distinguish between the music you’re playing because your child loves it and the music you actually want to hear yourself.

And that distinction could make a noticeable difference when Spotify decides what comes next. Once the setting is disabled, kids’ and family music will no longer factor into personalized recommendations such as Discover Weekly and Daily Mix. It will also be excluded from listening insights, including a listener’s year-end Spotify Wrapped recap.

The change applies retroactively too. So if you’ve already accumulated an impressive number of streams from the soundtrack to your child’s favorite animated movie, those plays won’t continue counting toward your top songs or artists once the setting is switched off.

Importantly, though, this doesn’t prevent anyone from listening to kids’ music. Parents can still search for those songs, play them and add them to playlists — they simply won’t contribute to the taste profile used to personalize the rest of their Spotify experience.

The feature is rolling out globally on mobile for both Free and Premium users. It is turned on by default, meaning users who want to keep children’s music separate from their own listening habits will need to manually switch it off.

To do so, open Spotify and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner, then head to your “Settings and privacy” section. From there, select “Content and display,” where you’ll be able to switch off “Include kids and family music in taste profile.” Spotify says it can take up to 48 hours for the change to fully appear in personalized recommendations.

The new setting comes alongside Spotify’s broader efforts to give families more control over how they use the platform. The company also offers tools that allow listeners to remove individual songs or playlists from influencing their taste profile, while its managed accounts give younger listeners their own more age-appropriate Spotify experience.

Dead Boys guitarist and co-founder Cheetah Chrome has died at 71. The Cleveland-bred punk group announced the news in an Instagram message on Sunday night (Sept. 13) in which they wrote, “We are incredibly sad to announce the news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Cheetah Chrome. Cheetah was a true original, an architect of the punk rock movement. a one man hurricane tearing up the musical landscape with his feral guitar riffs and manic energy.”

The tribute to the punk pioneer born Eugene Richard O’Connor in Cleveland on Feb. 18, 1955, continued, “Beyond all that Cheetah was also just a really sweet guy that loved rock-roll. We extend our deepest condolences to Cheetah’s family, friends and fans around the world. His music lives on and will continue to inspire others for generations to come. We ask for privacy during this difficult time.” At press time Billboard had not independently confirmed the details of Chrome’s death and no cause of death had been announced.

Chrome got his start in the short-lived, chaotic pre-punk Cleveland band Rocket From the Tombs, joining the band fronted by journalist and future Pere Ubu singer David Thomas for a year before it imploded and produced the Dead Boys and Pere Ubu.

Dead Boys was fronted by kinetic, unpredictable live-wire singer Stiv Bators — who died at 40 in June 1990 — and earned a reputation as one of the most intense, unhinged bands of the era. The group, which also featured drummer Johnny Blitz, bassist Jeff Magnum and rhythm guitarist Jimmy Zero, moved to New York in 1976 and gained notoriety with a series of wild shows at the Mecca of punk: CBGB.

The group’s 1977 debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty, was produced by former Escorts singer Genya Ravan and exploded out of the gate with the song that would become their signature howl to arms: “Sonic Reducer.” The headlong blitz featuring Bators’ strangulated vocals, Chrome’s paint-peeling guitar solo and Blitz’s double-time surf rock solo is considered one of the building blocks of the punk movement. It’s been covered by bands from Pearl Jam to Foetus, the Dictators and Patti Smith and was the featured cover by former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson during his stint with Guns N’ Roses.

The group only managed to release one more LP during their original run, 1978’s We Have Come For Your Children, produced by ex-Mountain bassist Felix Pappalardi and released before the band melted down the next year and Chrome set out on his own with Cheetah Chrome and the Casualties. The album did produce another stone classic in turgid, Stooges-esque album rager “Ain’t It Fun,” which GNR covered on their 1993 covers album The Spaghetti Incident? The Dead Boys would reunite several times over the years for shows, including in 1987, 2004 and 2017, but never released another studio album.

Chrome also performed around New York with the Stilettos, performed on Ronnie Spector’s 1980 debut solo album, Siren, as well as recording with punk agitator G.G. Allin and told his life story in the 2010 memoir Cheetah Chrome: A Dead Boy’s Tale From the Front Lines of Punk Rock. He reformed Rocket From the Tombs in 2003 with a lineup featuring Thomas and bassist Craig Bell, as well as Television’s Richard Lloyd to record Rocket Redux, a compilation of re-recorded songs from the band’s heyday. Chrome left the group again shortly after they released the new LP Barfly in 2011 and took up a gig as creative director of A&R for Plowboy Records in his new hometown of Nashville, releasing his long-awaited solo debut, Solo, on the label in 2014.

Former Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint portrayed Chrome in the 2013 movie CBGB.

The Dead Boys — with no original members — announced a 2027 tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the group’s 1977 Sire Records debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty in August, with the dates slated to kick off in Morro Bay, Calif. on Jan. 7.

In the new season of Gabby’s Dollhouse, the Gabby Cats are making room for the Doozie Dogs.

When season 14 of the long-running preschool series arrives Tuesday on Netflix, Gabby will be joined by her kid sister Doozie, who is just as obsessed with dogs as Gabby is with Cats. Now, Billboard Family has the exclusive premiere of the sisters’ first-ever duet: “Meow-Meow Bow-Wow Family.”

In the brand-new scene, we get to meet Doozie and her pup Puggie dancing and playing alongside Gabby and her cat Pandy. “Sisters, whiskers, cats and dogs/ Waggin’ tails and clappin’ paws,” they all sing together. “We get along so happily/ We’re a meow-meow bow-wow family.” Watch below:

“Meow-Meow Bow-Wow Family” is the focus track of the upcoming six-song Gabby’s Dollhouse EP Pawty Time, which also arrives Tuesday via Republic Records: Kids & Family.

“This EP is such a fun milestone for the Gabby’s Dollhouse universe,” says Bree Bowles, senior vice president, Republic Records: Kids & Family. “Introducing Doozie through music creates a whole new way for families to connect with these characters, and ‘Meow-Meow Bow-Wow Family’ perfectly captures the heart of what makes this franchise so special. We’re incredibly proud to continue growing the music alongside DreamWorks Animation and bringing fans even more stories they can sing, dance, and celebrate together.”

Across the four new episodes hitting Netflix on Tuesday, Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) and Doozie (Celestina Harris) will bring a whole new sisterly dynamic to the show, and music will play a big role in their family.

“We’ve always believed that music is one of the most joyful ways to expand the world of Gabby’s Dollhouse, and Pawty Time is no exception,” says Alexandra Nickson, senior vice president, music, DreamWorks Animation. “Bringing Gabby and Doozie together musically opens the door to a wonderful new dynamic that families will instantly fall in love with. Music has always been central to the storytelling in Gabby’s Dollhouse, and this EP captures the fun, warmth, humor, and imagination that define both series.”

Find the full Pawty Time track list below:

“Meow-Meow Bow-Wow Family”
“Doggy Dogs”
“Fairy Sitter Dance”
“Happy Birthday DJ”
“Fairy Flower Bread”
“Sprinkle Party (Cream Puff Remix)”

Oprah Winfrey is taking talk into a whole new dimension. The veteran host will launch “Oprah Winfrey’s AHA” at Sphere in Las Vegas next April, a weekend-long event featuring musicians, artists and storytellers from around the world appearing live on stage with Winfrey in what is described as “a brand-new visual, musically immersive symphony of senses.”

The 2027 shows on April 2, 3 and 4 were inspired by Winfrey’s visit to see the very first Sphere resident performers, U2, back when the Irish rock legends opened the venue in 2023 with their U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

“‘AHA’ is a dream that came to me as I sat in awe at the opening night of U2 at the Sphere, mesmerized by the possibilities of how the space could be used as a tool for creating greater awareness and understanding of ourselves and our connection to each other,” said Winfrey in a statement. “Creating this experience has felt like the culmination of what I’ve spoken about and worked towards my entire life.”

Presale sign-up and weekend packages for the event are available now here; a general on-sale begins on Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. PT.

The two-hour show will feature Winfrey appearing live on stage with special guests, including performances from seven-time Grammy winner Jacob Collier, an appearance by poet and author Ocean Vuong (On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous), musician Ajeet, gospel singer Wintley Phipps and others. The show’s music direction and original music is being composed by Oscar nominee Max Richter (Hamnet), Grammy-winning musician and vocal director Jason White and Grammy-nominated composer, producer and electronic artist Jon Hopkins.

In addition, the show will feature writing from MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient and Oscar-winning screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) and original works by artist Es Devlin and the Plum Village Monks. Described as a “journey of light, sound, music, storytelling, nature and shared humanity,” the Live Nation-presented show is being designed by a production team including director Ethan Tobman and produced by Emmy-winner Baz Halpin of Silent House Group.

In a promo video, Winfrey describes her first visit to the Sphere and how it inspired the new show. “I had a big AHA! moment. What if this magnificent space could take us to the edge of the universe and deep within ourselves for an immersive symphony of awe, wonder and joy?” she asks.

Executive producers including Winfrey, along with producer of The Life You Want tour, Together Live founder Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Harpo Entertainment Emmy-winning executive producer Tara McNally Montgomery, Emmy-winning Fulwell Entertainment co-founder Ben Winston and award-winning social entrepreneur Andrew Maxwell Mangino and consulting producer and Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp.

Check out Winfrey’s “AHA” promo video below.

It’s not a stretch to say that when Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker gets behind his kit he is an animal. The hard-bashing, in-demand producer and collaborator attacks the skins like they owe him money. But in a new PSA for Humane World For Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States), Barker, 50, steps out from behind his drums to share a very special message about taking action to stand up for animals as part of the organization’s Small Steps For Good campaign.

“I haven’t eaten meat since I was 13 and I’ve been a vegetarian since then,” Barker, 50, tells Billboard about his longtime meat-free lifestyle. “I didn’t like the taste at the time and then I figured out where hot dogs and ham and steak came from and there’s not a chance … ‘nope, can’t do that!’ I’ve always loved animals and I never liked the taste of meat.”

Barker says he teamed up with the Humane World For Animals because he felt a kinship with their mission. Plus, the goals of the campaign felt like a natural fit for him, including adopting pets from local animal shelters, not wearing products made out of real fur and using cruelty-free products such as those from his own vegan wellness company, Barker Wellness.

He’s been such an outspoken advocate for animal welfare that Barker says some of his favorite designers will make vegan versions of their clothes or sneakers for him and his next collab with VANS is planned as an all-vegan shoe. “All my clothes are vegan-friendly,” says Barker, who describes his daily “uniform” as Dickies pants, all-vegan Vans and a T-shirt.

He’s also happy to put his money where his meat-free mouth is, including investing in L.A.’s upscale plant-based Crossroads Kitchen after chef Tal Ronnen pitched him on the idea at a Bad Brains show. “The other day I was at Jay Leno’s garage and we drove some cars and when I left with my 84-year-old dad I said, ‘let’s eat at this spot,’ and I could tell he wasn’t thrilled,” he said of his choice of Lotus Vegan, a spot he remembered riding his bike to when he lived in North Hollywood.

“And then during our meal, I said, ‘dad, I eat at these places because they’re all vegan and they need the support to stay open for business another month,’” says Barker, who became vegan after his the horrific 2008 plane crash that took the lives of two of his best friends and the plane’s two pilots. “Rather than eating at a restaurant that has vegan options, I like to eat at an actual mom-and-pop, struggling vegan restaurant doing their thing.”

The 30-second PSA opens with Barker in suburban dad mode, chilling out in a cream-colored turtleneck sweater, glasses and jeans, lamenting, “Being good? I always thought that was boring,” before he rips off his shirt to expose his famously inked-up torso. “But f– that. Good is never boring!” he says as the jazzy soundtrack switches to a punk rock beat.

Slipping into a Cookie Monster-blue jacket, Barker says, “Faux fur is way cooler than real fur. Plant based in plant based!,” he adds as he digs into a bowl of beans. “I always support people doing good in the world … just do good. That’s the move.”

“Creating a better world for animals takes bold systemic change, and it starts with the small choices people make every day,” says Humane World for Animals president/CEO Kitty Block in a statement. “That’s the idea behind our Small Steps for Good campaign: Showing that everyone has the power to make a difference for animals. Travis has inspired people for years by using his voice and platform to advocate for animals in a way that is authentic to who he is. We hope this campaign encourages others to discover their own small steps and see how those actions can add up to meaningful change.”  

As for whether Barker’s wife, Kourtney Kardashian, or their blended family are on board the vegan train, Travis says that he doesn’t judge anyone for their choices — his good friend podcaster Joe Rogan is a loud and proud meat eating hunter — but he said his daughter Alabama has been a vegetarian her whole life and his other kids eat vegan when they’re out to dinner with him, including the couple’s two-year-old son, Rocky Thirteen.

At the end of the day, Barker says the campaign’s message is perfectly clear: “Be nice to animals. It’s not that hard and it won’t cause too much of an identity crisis for anyone.”

Check out Barker’s PSA below.

Charli XCX has responded to fan frustration over the limited number of dates on the upcoming UK and European leg of her Music, Fashion, Film tour, explaining that touring takes a significant toll on her.

The singer recently announced a six-show 2027 run across Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Amsterdam and Paris, prompting some fans to voice disappointment in the comments over the small number of arena dates.

In an Instagram statement, Charli acknowledged the reaction directly. “I know there’s a lot of frustration in the comments about the fact that I am not doing lots of dates. I am really sorry if you feel disappointed, but I have to honor my truth as an artist: touring is really emotionally and physically hard for me,” she wrote.

“I am not looking for sympathy and I have a huge amount of respect for artists who can handle it at an intense, lengthy and high-octane level, but I am just not one of those human beings and I never have been,” she continued, noting she had opted for a shorter run on her current North American tour for the same reasons.

“I’m sorry if you feel I am letting you down; I really am. Perhaps one day I will be built for the kind of touring you expect from me, but right now I am not.” She added that she hoped both fans and herself would enjoy the shows, saying she would “try my best to stay in a healthy and positive mindset.”

The tour supports Music, Fashion, Film, Charli’s seventh studio album, released July 24 as the follow-up to her culture-dominating 2024 record Brat.

The album marked another sharp turn for the Essex-raised artist, leaning into darker, grittier rock sounds, and debuted at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart — her fourth U.K. chart-topper, and one that made her the first British female artist to score two new No. 1 albums in the same calendar year.

In the U.S., the album opened at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and gave Charli her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. The UK and European run follows a landmark summer that included her first headline set at Reading Festival, and precedes the North American leg of the tour, which commenced on Friday (Sept. 11) in Philadelphia.

The 12-date arena trek includes stops in New York, Toronto, Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles before wrapping in Las Vegas on Oct. 23. Electronic artist Underscores will join Charli on the road.