Snoop Dogg has been refused a federal trademark on “Smoke Weed Everyday” after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled that the cannabis-loving phrase was too common to function as a brand name.

The iconic rapper wants to secure rights to the name — derived from the outro to the 2001 song “The Next Episode” by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop – for a chain of marijuana dispensaries. But the agency’s Tuesday ruling says the lyric is so widely used that it won’t work as an exclusive trademark.

“This term or phrase is a song lyric commonly used in association with cannabis use,” the trademark examiner writes. “Because consumers are accustomed to seeing this term or phrase used in ordinary language by many different sources, they would not perceive it as a mark identifying the source of applicant’s goods and/or services but rather as only conveying an informational message.”

The trademark was also rejected for a simpler reason: That cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, and only trademarks for “lawful” goods can be registered under federal law.

“Because applicant’s goods and/or services include items or activities that are a per se violation of federal law, the intended use or use of the applied-for mark in commerce in connection with such goods and/or services cannot be lawful,” the examiner writes.

The ruling doesn’t mean that Snoop can’t use the name for dispensaries, but it would make it harder for him to protect the name if somebody else opened up a similarly-named competing store. He can also appeal the ruling — first to the examiner, then to the PTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and finally to a federal court if need be.

Snoop is already using a different version of the same name in real life. He runs a Los Angeles dispensary named S.W.E.D., the acronymic version of the lyric, as well as Coffeeshop S.W.E.D. in Amsterdam.

When it comes to the S.W.E.D. name, Snoop has had better luck with trademarks. He also applied to register that version, and the application has already been tentatively approved for registration.

A representative for Snoop did not immediately return Billboard‘s request for comment.

When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 nominees were unveiled on Feb. 25, Mariah Carey admits “it felt great” to see her name on the list, marking her third consecutive nomination. “It’s definitely an unchecked box.”

Looking back on her career, Carey is no stranger to the rock genre, having released covers of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” (which became one of her biggest hits in South America), Journey’s “Open Arms” and Def Leppard’s “Bringing On the Heartbreak,” which became a fan favorite from her 2002 album Charmbracelet. But what does the songwriter feel is her most rocking release?

“Chick, that was a rock moment,” she asserts.

She’s referring to Someone’s Ugly Daughter, the alternative rock  album she secretly recorded in 1995 under the pseudonym Chick (which was ultimately released with another artist singing lead vocals). When Mariah was honored as this year’s MusiCares Person of the Year during Grammys week in Los Angeles, attendees saw the project come to life — thanks to performances from Foo Fighters and Taylor Momsen, who covered “Hermit” and “Love Is a Scam,” respectively, from the sole Chick release. Mariah was beaming.

“That was amazing,” Carey reflects. “Just to feel that whole thing, I don’t even know how to express it.”

As for whether fans will ever get to hear Carey herself on those tracks, she says, “I want to give people a taste of Someone’s Ugly Daughter… I think it is pretty funny, because I created this thing and what do you do? It’s just there.”

She says she’s always wanted to showcase more of her rocker side, yet says during her rise she was always told, “Stay in your lane.”

Thankfully, for fans, she never has. At the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, Carey performed a medley of “Volare” and “Nothing Is Impossible” – singing both in Italian. “It was exciting to add that to my repertoire — because, I mean, ‘Volare’ was just a moment. I couldn’t even believe that that was happening.”

The performance came on the heels of Carey’s latest album, Here for It All, her 16th album that arrived last September. The album delivered another No. 1 to her tally, with “In Your Feelings” topping the Adult R&B Airplay chart.

Her historic count of chart-topping hits is exactly why she believes why the Rock Hall induction should be in her future. in April. When asked why she deserves to be welcomed into the Hall of Fame, she answers with a laugh, “I would say they should check out the 19 [Billboard Hot 100] No. 1s… not everybody has those to their name.” 

It’s official: TikTok is staying in Canada.

After it was previously reported that the federal court overturned the Canadian government’s order to shut down the platform, the popular social media app will continue operations in the country. The company will now operate under new data protection rules designed to fiercely protect the data of Canadian users.

The announcement was made by Canadian industry minister Mélanie Joly, who revealed that a national security review concluded that TikTok could remain, subject to enhanced data security and child safety.

“The government of Canada will exercise its full authorities under the Investment Canada Act and ensure the full implementation and enforcement of the measures committed to by TikTok Canada,” Joly says in a statement, pointing to the legislation that ensures an organization is beneficial to the economy and doesn’t harm national security.

“The decision follows a thorough assessment of the information and evidence gathered during the review process, including advice from Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” she says. “Protecting Canadians’ data and the safety of children online will always be a top priority of the government.”

Some of the enhanced protocols include implementing data restrictions and age limits for minors, and protecting Canadians’ personal information through “new security gateways and privacy-enhancing technologies to control access to Canadian user data” to reduce the risk of unauthorized use.

An independent third-party organization will regularly audit and verify TikTok’s data access controls and provide reports to the federal government.

“Further, this decision will protect Canadian jobs, ensuring that TikTok Canada maintains a physical presence in Canada, with commitments to invest in its cultural sector,” says Joly, noting that the choice to remain a functioning operation in Canada is a future investment in the country’s creators and users on the platform, which receives over 15 million monthly visitors.

The choice to remain in Canada comes two months after the federal court overturned the shutdown ruling. Federal court judge Russel Zinn set aside the order and returned the matter to Joly for review.

“Keeping TikTok’s Canadian team in place will enable a path forward that continues to support millions of dollars of investment in Canada and hundreds of local jobs,” a spokesperson for the platform told CBC News.

It has been nearly three years since the government of Canada launched an inquiry into whether TikTok was a national security concern, becoming a major point of contention in the Canadian music industry.

Read more here. — Heather Taylor-Singh

Meet Darren Gilmore, the Canadian Manager Behind Hilary Duff’s Chart-Topping Comeback

Hilary Duff is back, and her comeback is one of the best-executed in years — especially in Canada.

Her new album, Luck… Or Something, debuted last week at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, a feat she hadn’t achieved in more than two decades. Building on the buzz of her intimate show at History in Toronto earlier this year that had the whole country buzzing, she’s now coming to 10 different Canadian cities on her Lucky Me World Tour in 2026 and 2027.

While the press run has played into the humour and nostalgia of the singer and actor’s 2000s-era pop star tabloid days and viral low-energy “With Love” dance moves, her comeback has been more than a novelty. It’s been orchestrated. With strategic rollout plans, a “dream team” of people working behind the scenes and a critically acclaimed set of songs that builds a space for grown-up pop on the global stage, Duff’s new act is resonating in a big way.

But there’s a reason it’s hitting so well in Canada: Duff’s management is Canadian. Led by industry veteran Darren Gilmore and a mostly female team headed by longtime vp and general manager Sarah Fenton, she has an expert set of people helping guide her. 

The president of Watchdog Management, Vancouver native Gilmore has worked closely with management legends like Bruce Allen and Sam Feldman, and now handles a roster that includes a strong set of Canadian acts including Mother Mother (who have also built a second act into major worldwide success), touring juggernaut Peach Pit, country singer Corb Lund and new Billboard Canada Airplay charts leader Boy Golden, among others.

When we reach Gilmore for this week’s Billboard Canada Executive of the Week, he’s just gotten off the set of The Tonight Show, where Hilary Duff performed her new hit “Roommates” and taught Jimmy Fallon the “With Love” dance. Amidst the busy promotional tour, he talks about the whirlwind rollout and why, beyond any 21st century viral marketing, the secret sauce is simple: Make good music.

Read the interview here. — Richard Trapunski

Elton John to Accept Glenn Gould Prize at 2026 Toronto Gala Featuring The Beaches, Diana Krall & More

Elton John is coming to Toronto.

The English legend has just been named the 15th Glenn Gould Prize Laureate, and he will be honoured at The Glenn Gould Prize Gala on May 9 at The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto.

The announcement was made by The Glenn Gould Foundation, which also revealed a star-studded lineup of Canadian artists hand-selected by John.

Performers include Diana Krall, Ron Sexsmith, The Beaches, two-time Polaris Prize winner Jeremy Dutcher, LOONY, Emily D’Angelo and Ryan Wang. The evening will also feature the presentation of The Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, with the winner to be announced later this month.

John was a surprise video presenter for The Beaches as they won the Women of the Year award at the 2025 Billboard Canada Women in Music, and now they can reciprocate.

Named for the iconic and pioneering Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, the Prize honours those whose work embodies Gould’s innovative spirit. It is considered one of the world’s most prestigious international cultural honours and has been dubbed the “Nobel Prize of the Arts.” Awarded biennially, it recognizes a living individual of any nationality or creative field for a lifetime of artistic achievement that has enriched humanity.

Established in 1987, the prize includes a $100,000 award for the Laureate, who also personally selects a young artist to receive the $25,000 Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, celebrating the vital role of mentorship.

“In selecting Elton John, we chose to honour someone whose artistic achievements have been transformed into profound social impact,” says Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada, and a jurist for the Glenn Gould Prize. “He has used his success to change lives, embodying the very highest ideals of the arts.”

The distinguished list of previous Glenn Gould Prize Laureates include Canadians Leonard Cohen, Oscar Peterson, R. Murray Schafer, Robert Lepage and Alanis Obomsawin, alongside such international luminaries as Philip Glass, Pierre Boulez, Yo Yo Ma, Andre Previn and Lord Yehudi Menuhin.

Read more here. — Kerry Doole