Entertainment
In Canada: The Beaches Named Billboard Canada’s Women of the Year 2025
Charlotte Cardin is passing the torch.
After winning Billboard Canada‘s inaugural Woman of the Year award in 2024, the Montreal pop singer-songwriter announced this year’s winner: The Beaches.
“I’m so happy for them!” she said, opening the envelope and smiling. “It’s so well deserved. They’ve been killing it for a long time. They’re really, really, really awesome girls.”
Cardin and iHeartRadio host Shannon Burns got on a video call with The Beaches to deliver the news on Aug, 29 — the same day the band was celebrating the release of its brand new album, No Hard Feelings.
“I just wanted to congratulate you and tell you that I love you guys and I think your music is so amazing,” Cardin told the band, who gathered together to hear the news. “I’m just rooting for you always, always, always.”
After spending the summer having their songs screamed back at them by tens of thousands of fans at Coachella, Osheaga and Pukkelpop in Belgium, the Toronto band has released its critically acclaimed new album, No Hard Feelings.
The tour will next bring the band to its most monumental concert so far, with the group slated to play its largest ever headlining show at its hometown Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 6.
Amidst that whirlwind, The Beaches will mark yet another career milestone after being named Women of the Year at Billboard Canada Women in Music 2025 — the first time Billboard’s prestigious flagship award will go to a group rather than a single artist.
The entire band — Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass), Kylie Miller (guitar), Leandra Earl (guitar, keys) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums) — will accept the honour at Billboard Canada Women in Music on Oct. 1 at Rebel in Toronto.
“We’re so honoured to be celebrated alongside so many incredible women who have done so much for the music industry,” says Kylie Miller in a new Billboard Canada cover story.
“Our team is built around women working together, so anytime we get to celebrate communities of women uplifting one another, it feels amazing,” adds her sister Jordan.
Read about The Beaches’ viral rise and the momentum that is bringing them to even bigger heights in a new Billboard Canada cover story here. – Richard Trapunski
Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol Crash Drake’s Toronto House in Nirvanna the Band the Show The Movie
Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol will do anything for the bit.
Last May, a security guard was shot outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto. As local TV crews rushed to the scene, Johnson and McCarrol used it as a filming opportunity.
The duo, known as Nirvanna the Band, brought their own cameras to document the crime scene for their movie, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sept. 4.
It’s a revival of the pair’s beloved web series and TV show, Nirvanna the Band the Show, which thrived on public stunts and inside jokes.
In the film, Johnson and McCarrol reprise their roles as two floundering Toronto musicians on a mission to book a show at local Toronto bar The Rivoli — which, of course, doesn’t go as planned.
Johnson and McCarrol were filming a scene for their movie as guests on the local morning radio program, The Roz & Mocha Show, when they heard a guard had been shot outside Drake’s residence.
“Because it was a radio station, they got the news of the Drake shooting right there,” Johnson told The Canadian Press. They immediately knew it was a unique opportunity that couldn’t be passed up.
“[We] just got into the van that we’d taken there and we drove to Drake’s house,” the BlackBerry director said.
One sequence in the movie captures the breaking-news media frenzy outside the Toronto rapper’s house. “There were helicopters in the sky, police lined up and down the street,” Johnson said.
When the duo initially arrived at Drake’s house, their crew was met with a police barricade and skeptical officers. The pair managed to slip past by claiming they were “independent media.”
Once at the crime scene, they began scouting opportunities to turn the situation into film fodder. In a viral CP24 clip, a reporter delivers a live segment (6:07) while Johnson is in the background directing the film’s cinematographer, Jared Raab.
In Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, the duo puts Toronto at the forefront, staging gonzo-style sequences featuring the CN Tower, the Rogers Centre and TTC streetcars.
Read more here. – Heather Taylor-Singh
Joni Mitchell, Boi-1da, Drake and Shubh Among 2025 SOCAN Special Achievement Winners
The SOCAN Special Achievement Winners have been announced.
The 35th SOCAN Awards shared the recipients in celebration of the organization’s 100th anniversary. The accolade spotlights Canada’s most accomplished songwriters, composers and music publishers — representing the breadth and global influence of homegrown talent. Last year’s winners included Arkells, K’naan, Drake and Lauren Spencer Smith.
This year’s list of honourees includes Canadian icon and cultural impact award winner Joni Mitchell, who has left an indelible mark on music and culture, inspiring generations with her profound artistry.
Elsewhere, Boi-1da, who has helped to define the sound of rap and R&B artists locally and globally with his groundbreaking production work, will take home the global impact award. And his frequent collaborator, Drake, is being honored as the songwriter of the year — performer for the fourth time.
Breakout songwriter award winner Shubh, a Punjabi artist, has emerged as one of the country’s most exciting new voices, captivating audiences worldwide and amassing billions of streams, with a rapidly growing global fan base.
Other recipients include Lowell, Jordan Gagne, Evan Blair, Ozan “Oz” Yildirim, Erica Procunier, and bülow and Nathan Ferraro.
“This year’s honourees showcase just how influential Canadian music is, from cultural icons to global hitmakers and powerful new voices,” said Jennifer Brown, SOCAN CEO, in a statement. “At a time when creators are navigating big changes in the music industry, it’s important to celebrate their achievements, and to remind them that they’re part of a strong community working with them and for them.”
The SOCAN Awards will be held on Sept. 29 at Toronto’s Rebel venue, with winners in various categories announced during the event.
Find all the winners here. – Heather Taylor-Singh
Entertainment
Fat Joe Accuser Drops Accusation of Sex With Underage Girls & RICO Claims in Updated Lawsuit
A former hypeman who sued Fat Joe over shocking underage sex allegations — accusations the star has called part of an extortion scheme — has quietly dropped all reference to such allegations in a new version of his lawsuit.
Terrance “T.A.” Dixon sued Fat Joe (Joseph Cartagena) last year over sweeping allegations of wrongdoing, including sex trafficking, fraud, racketeering and, most seriously, that he had “personally witnessed” him engage in “sexual relations” with two girls aged 15 and 16.
But in an amended complaint filed in court Thursday (March 26), Dixon’s allegations no longer contain those claims of underage sex, and it also removes previous allegations made under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law. Dixon’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, did not immediately return a request for comment on why those accusations had been dropped.
The move is significant, and not just because it means Fat Joe is no longer facing hideous accusations that would constitute a crime if true. The rapper has long said such claims were part of a scheme by Dixon to extort him into a settlement; in his own separate lawsuit filed months before Dixon’s case, the rapper said the hypeman had been threatening to sue him over “grotesque” false claims, including “unspeakable acts such as pedophilia,” if he was not paid out.
The new version of Dixon’s lawsuit still includes serious accusations, including that Fat Joe violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act by coercing Dixon to work for him and to take part in non-consensual sexual encounters. But other claims are more of a business nature, centering on allegations that Dixon was not properly paid wages and not properly credited as a co-writer on certain songs.
In a statement to Billboard, Fat Joe’s lawyer Jordan Siev reiterated that the accusations against his client were “nothing more than an elaborate shakedown to extract money from him.”
“Their decision to now voluntarily amend Mr. Dixon’s complaint — removing all allegations involving transporting of minors, statutory rape and RICO — and recast this matter primarily as a financial dispute about royalties and wages allegedly owed only reinforces that the allegations were baseless and that Mr. Cartagena is the one being targeted,” Siev said.
Meanwhile, Joe’s lawsuit against Dixon is moving ahead. In a ruling earlier this month, a federal judge refused to dismiss the rapper’s claims that the hypeman and Blackburn legally defamed him by publicly airing their allegations, allowing those claims to go ahead toward a trial. Dixon and Blackburn are currently attempting to appeal the ruling.
Entertainment
TWICE’s Nayeon Just Shared Her Favorite Vivaia Shoes in the Brand’s Latest Spring Campaign: Shop Her Picks Here
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
TWICE’s Nayeon is well known for many things, including her music, but her personal style is severely underrated.
The K-pop star’s looks are often a mix of feminine and comfortable pieces, often pulling inspo from Y2K aesthetics. The “ABCD” singer favors bright colors, playful textures and silhouettes that flatter her frame. In short, we trust her taste, and clearly so does Vivaia, an eco-friendly footwear brand founded in 2020. The retailer tapped the K-pop act to star in its spring 2026 collection titled Feel the Comfort.
The girl group member modeled some of her favorite styles, which consisted mostly of Mary Jane-meets-ballet-flat styles and whimsical sneakers in various colors with feminine and edgy touches. In specific, Nayeon wore the brand’s Square-Toe Jogger Sneakerina retailing for $159, the Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes retailing for $149, the Square-Toe Margot™ Mary Jane 3.0 retailing for $139 and the Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes for $149. You can shop her picks below and on Vivaia’s website.
Square-Toe Jogger Sneakerina
Think of this like a mix between a sneaker and a ballet flat. The style is affixed with silky ribbon lace-up closures.
Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes
This style is another ballet flat but with lace-up detailing. It also comes with charms that you can attach and alternative laces.
When asked, “What does comfort mean to you?” Nayeon responded in a statement saying, “When I am being my true self.” One of our favorite styles is the Square-Toe Hybrid Mesh Mary Janes in a tan hue with red accents. The shoe features all-round mesh paneling, making them breathable, along with dainty lace-up closures and a playful bubble sole. This style also comes with interchangeable red laces, which Nayeon chose for the campaign, along with floral charms in matching hues that can be attached to your laces to change things up. Sizing is available from 5 through 9.
Another great option is the Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes that feature see-through mesh throughout and floral accents. Fun fact: The mesh uppers are made with recycled plastic bottles. The shoe has gold clasps to adjust the fit and square toes that Vivaia seems to incorporate in a bunch of its shoe creations. Again, this silhouette is see-through, but you can wear socks with them, which could be a fun stylistic choice if you don a fun print or color.
Square-Toe Margot™ Mary Jane 3.0
These are breathable square-toed ballet flats with straps. The straps are equipped with edgy buckles and grommets.
Mesh Floral Square-Toe Mary Janes
This was said to be one of Nayeon’s favorite styles. These ballet flats feature mesh paneling with floral adornments.
All of Vivaia’s footwear focuses on on-trend silhouettes with an emphasis on comfort. The brand’s mission of comfort meets style came from a singular question: “Why can’t heels, and all women’s shoes, have a sneaker-like comfort?” Each of its shoes is equipped with padded insoles to provide ultimate comfort. The retailer even has wide-foot-friendly designs, creating a more inclusive range for people to shop.
Entertainment
BTS Invites You Behind the Scenes of Their Massive ‘Return’ in Documentary Sneak Peek
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.
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