Entertainment
Ludacris on Hosting the iHeartRadio Music Awards Again, Being Considered a Musical Landmark & How to Succeed as an Up-and-Coming Artist
It’s time to roll out to this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards — and leading the charge is this year’s host and recipient of the highly coveted Landmark Award, Ludacris.
The Atlanta native is no stranger to the hosting gig. He hosted the Billboard Music Awards for back to back years in 2016 and 17. And two years ago, Luda took on the emcee role for the iHeartRadio Music Awards where he delivered a joyous opening monologue, honored fellow musical legends, cracked jokes at his own expense and also performed a medley of his own biggest hits. With this experience already under his belt, hosting the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards is a return to form for him.
With Luda at the helm, this year’s ceremony is looking to be as exciting as ever. Alongside the rapper’s Landmark Award, iHeartRadio has announced several other major honors that are to be presented. Miley Cyrus, hot off the heels of last week’s Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, will receive the Innovator Award, given out to an artist with global musical and cultural impact. Best New Artist Grammy nominee and chart topper Alex Warren will get the award for Breakthrough Artist. Grammy-winning singer-songer writer John Mellencamp will be bestowed with the Icon Award. Though it is not yet known what awards she may receive, Taylor Swift, who is nominated in a whopping nine categories, is set to make a special appearance, marking the first time she’s attended the event since 2023.
The awards categories aren’t the stacked lineup at this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards. 90s hiphop and RnB legends Salt-N-Pepa, TLC and En Vogue will all hit the stage together for the first time — a perfect kickoff to their recently-announced It’s Iconic tour. Vocal powerhouse Raye, whose second studio album This Music May Contain Hope drops the day after the ceremony, will also perform. The Landmark himself, Ludacris will take a break from hosting to put on his performer hat, as he shows off just why he’s receiving the major award this year.
Ahead of Thursday’s (March 26) ceremony, Billboard caught up with Ludacris to chat all things iHeartRadio Music Awards, why he’s looking forward to hosting, and what he thinks of some of this year’s performers and awardees.
You hosted the iHeartRadio Music Awards in 2024 — what are you most excited for with hosting again?
Just it being live, because anything can happen. Not all award shows are live, and I just love that element. It brings a whole new excitement to it. You just never know what can happen — anything can happen.
Do you have any ideas or plans for crazy surprises that people should look out for it?
There are a bunch of those types of crazy surprises. I can’t give them away, because then it wouldn’t be a surprise, but there are definitely some really good things. I know there’s not a surprise with Taylor Swift making an appearance. She hasn’t done that in a long time, so just that alone is going to get a lot of people excited. She has nine nominations, so she’s making a special appearance.
There are a lot of awards being given out — how do you keep up your energy and keep the audience excited throughout the night as a host?
I got a team of individuals around me that help me stay sane and keep me on point. I can’t do it all myself. I always make sure that I give love to the team that’s around me. Having the experience of doing it before is also something that comforts me, and I feel like we’re going to make it even better, and are trying to top last time.
Major congratulations on receiving the Landmark Award this year! What does it mean to you to receive this honor?
It means the world, because as artists, when we first put music out, you never know exactly how long it’s going to have impact. So when you can be in the industry for over two decades and look back at it, these are the type of awards that bring joy to your heart. You’re able to reflect on the impact, the amount of time and relevancy that your songs have made in the culture. So I’m extremely excited.
Alex Warren is receiving the breakthrough artist award. As a veteran of the industry, do you have any advice for him as a young artist reaching new levels of success?
Try not to take anything personal. Just keep going in the industry, that’s what I would say. Just keep your passion in the music, and don’t let the behind-the-scenes mess up your your [ability] to stay focused on the music.
You’re also performing this year! Without giving too much away, do you have anything special planned for it?
Something new. Absolutely something new and something classic, [we’re molding] those together.
Outside of your own, are there any performances at this year’s awards that your particularly excited about?
Man, I can’t wait to see TLC — you know, the hometown, that’s Atlanta, Georgia, right there. And Salt-N-Pepa, they are a pioneer female rap group. I love seeing pioneers be able to come back. For those who may not have been around when Salt-N-Pepa started, they’re able to witness their history and people that have paved the way for all of these current female artists. So those are the ones I’m most excited about.
Miley Cyrus is receiving this year’s innovator award. What do you think makes her an innovator?
It’s not easy to transition from child star into super stardom and have this type of role for so long. You see a lot of people that started in the children’s space, and it’s not as easy to transcend all of those years, still keep a level head and continue to grow as an artist. So I just want to salute her for just being consistent in elevation as a star and as a person that’s passionate about all that she does, it definitely shows.
Do you have any final words of encouragement you want to share with any of the nominees ahead of the ceremony?
Man, good luck. That’s all I would say.
As of the release of ARIRANG, BTS has finally returned. And in an upcoming Netflix documentary, the band is showing ARMY everything it took to get here.
In a sneak peek for the streamer’s BTS: The Return posted Wednesday (March 25), cameras follow RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook behind the scenes of their cover shoot for ARIRANG. In the final artwork, the septet poses in two rows wearing suits, looking stoically ahead. But the documentary footage shows how much work the seemingly simple shot took, with a team of producers, stylists and creatives milling about around the Bangtan Boys.
The teaser also shows each of the members sitting down for solo talking-head interviews showcasing their individual personalities. It previews some of the questions asked — Do you feel that you’re trying something completely new? What changed the most for you as an artist? Are you returning with something familiar? — but holds off on showing any of their answers.
“They’re back!” a description of the doc reads. “BTS gathers in LA to record their album ‘Arirang’ in this documentary offering unprecedented access to the band as they enter a new era.”
The sneak peek comes just two days ahead of the Friday (March 27) premiere BTS: The Return on Netflix. The project will drop exactly one week after the release of ARIRANG, which features 14 tracks — including single “Swim” — and marks the band’s first full-length since 2020’s Billboard 200-topper Be.
The group is currently in the midst of promoting ARIRANG with a series of performances that’ll build to a global tour in April. After hosting a huge comeback concert in Seoul, BTS descended on New York City for a Spotify showcase followed by performances at the Guggenheim for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Watch the sneak peek for BTS’ upcoming Netflix doc above.
Entertainment
USC Settles Sony Lawsuit Over Beyoncé and Harry Styles Songs in Sports Team Social Media Videos
The University of Southern California (USC) has reached a tentative settlement in Sony Music’s lawsuit alleging its sports teams used hundreds of unlicensed songs by stars like Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and Travis Scott in Instagram and TikTok hype videos.
A Wednesday (March 25) notice in New York federal court says Sony and USC have agreed to a “settlement in principle” that would end the major label’s copyright infringement claims. They asked a judge to suspend current litigation deadlines so they can finalize and sign the deal, the terms of which have not been disclosed.
Reps for Sony and USC both declined to comment on the settlement on Thursday (March 26).
Sony sued USC almost exactly a year ago, claiming the school’s various sports social media accounts had posted more than 250 videos featuring more than 170 unlicensed songs owned by the music giant. The list included a slew of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” and SZA’s “Kill Bill.”
The lawsuit complained that USC could have afforded to buy synch licenses for these songs, noting that the college sports powerhouse generates more than $200 million in annual revenue. Sony sought the maximum damages of $150,000 per allegedly infringed song, which would total more than $25 million.
In a statement to Billboard at the time, a USC rep said the university “respects the intellectual property rights of others and will respond to these allegations in court.” USC’s pre-settlement court filings focused narrowly on the issue of venue, arguing it was improper for the California-based institution to be sued in New York.
It’s become common practice in recent years for the major record labels to sue owners of corporate social media accounts over music licensing. While platforms like Instagram and TikTok have blanket licenses in place that allow individual users to freely soundtrack their videos from vast libraries of pre-cleared songs, music companies require commercial accounts to purchase synch licenses to use their material.
These lawsuits have roped in such targets as Chili’s, NBA teams and the cookie company Crumbl. The bulk of these cases settle confidentially. Some defendants fight back, though; shoe retailer DSW, for example, recently went on the offensive with a lawsuit of its own, claiming blanket social media licenses should also cover businesses.
Cardi B brought her blockbuster Little Miss Drama tour to her hometown of New York City on Wednesday night (March 25), marking the first of two nights at the iconic Manhattan arena. Naturally, Bardi put on a special show for her city, stacked with special guests, a relentless setlist, and her trademark energy and charisma.
As the lights dimmed over a crowd diligently decked out according to the 35-date trek’s “schoolgirl” dress code, the opening seconds of “Get Up 10” blared through the speakers, setting the stage for an equally celebratory and cinematic night. But this show was deeper than that; last night was also a homecoming moment for one of the most incredible hip-hop come-up stories of the late 2010s. Just under a decade since she exploded onto the scene with “Bodak Yellow,” Cardi returned to the city that gifted her the roots and the tools to become a Grammy-winning rapper who’s also the only female MC to have her first two albums — 2018’s Invasion of Privacy and 2025’s Am I the Drama? — debut atop the Billboard 200.
And those roots were meticulously honored throughout the show. From the Highbridge-indebted grit and bravado that anchored her searing opening run of solo rap anthems, to the Afro-Latin-Caribbean colors and rhythms that grounded the party-rocking third act, nearly every corner of New York City got some love at the Little Miss Drama Tour. She even paid tribute to her strip club days by turning the night’s fifth act into a booty-clapping bonanza, soundtracked by steam cuts like “On Dat Money,” “Thotiana” and, of course, “WAP.”
Drama songs comprised the bulk of the set list, with Invasion of Privacy and her enviable collection of standalone singles and classic guest verses making up the rest. While Megan Thee Stallion was in town for her Moulin Rouge! Broadway stint, the Hot Girl Coach did not pop out for a surprise performance of “WAP” and “Bongos.” Nonetheless, Bardi treated her hometown to Bed-Stuy-bred female rap legend Lil’ Kim and new-school Bronx star Cash Cobain. She also ceded some stage time to Natalie Nunn of Zeus Network’s Baddies franchise — which, in a way, called back to her own pre-“Bodak Yellow” reality TV days.
Here are the seven best moments of the first NYC stop of Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour at Madison Square Garden.
BTS Invites You Behind the Scenes of Their Massive ‘Return’ in Documentary Sneak Peek
USC Settles Sony Lawsuit Over Beyoncé and Harry Styles Songs in Sports Team Social Media Videos
Cardi B Brings ‘Little Miss Drama’ Tour Home to New York City: 6 Best Moments
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