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Sphere Entertainment Stock Jumps for Second Week on ‘Wizard of Oz’ Hype

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Sphere Entertainment Co. was the top-performing music stock for the second consecutive week after gaining 7.8% to $48.90 for the week ended Sept. 5. 

After rising 6.8% the previous week, Sphere Entertainment rode continued enthusiasm for the revamped The Wizard of Oz that debuted at Sphere on Aug. 28. On Wednesday (Sept. 3), the stock reached a 52-week high of $49.98 after the company announced it repurchased $27.5 million of common stock, putting it within reach of its all-time high of $51.19 set in February 2021.   

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German concert promoter CTS Eventim was the No. 2 music stock of the week, rising 5.5% to 84.45 euros ($98.99). On Tuesday, Rothschild & Co. upgraded CTS Eventim to a “buy” rating and lowered its price target to 105.00 euros ($123.08) from 109.00 euros ($127.77).

Spotify was No. 3 after gaining 3.6% to $707.19. On Wednesday, Guggenheim reiterated its “buy” rating and $850 price target for Spotify while making the case that the company’s ability to raise prices will help it “exceed current consensus estimates” in 2026 and beyond. Although Spotify is well below its all-time high of $785.00 set on June 27, it has gained 51.6% this year, making it one of the best-performing music stocks. 

The 19-company Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) rose 1.7% to 3,301.18, bringing its year-to-date gain to 42.7%. A dozen of the index’s stocks gained value during the week while seven lost ground. 

K-pop companies were among the 12 stocks that gained value this week. JYP Entertainment was up 3.4%, raising its year-to-date gain to 10.9%. HYBE improved 1.2%, which improved its 2025 gain to 44.5%. SM Entertainment rose 0.9%, lifting its year-to-date gain to 93.0%.

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Except for Spotify, the BGMI’s largest components had either small gains or modest losses. Universal Music Group rose 0.7% to 24.30; its year-to-date gain stands at 1.6%. Tencent Music Entertainment had a rare down week, falling 0.2% to $24.49 and lowering its 2025 gain to 119.6%. Live Nation fell 1.9% to $163.42, dropping its year-to-date gain to 26.2%.

Music streamer LiveOne was the week’s biggest loser after falling 20.0% to $0.44. Radio companies iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media dropped 11.4% and 5.9%, respectively.

Markets finished the week ahead but struggled at the end of the week after a disappointing jobs report showed a smaller-than-expected increase in payrolls and an increase in the unemployment rate. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report on Friday (Sept. 5) revealed that nonfarm payrolls increased 22,000 in August, versus economists’ expectations of 75,000. June’s payroll gain was revised down by 27,000 jobs, while July was revised up by 6,000. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3%. 

In the U.S., the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 2.6% and the S&P 500 gained 0.2%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 also gained 0.2%. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index rose 0.6%. China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.2%.


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Kendrick Lamar, Clipse & Doechii Show Rap Can Shine in Every Style With 2026 Grammy Noms

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On Friday (Nov. 7), the Recording Academy unveiled the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, and as always, the hip-hop world has plenty to celebrate and debate. With everyone on pins and needles, this year’s lineup delivers no shortage of storylines, surprises and standout performances from rap’s elite.

For the second consecutive year, Kendrick Lamar leads all contenders with a staggering nine nominations, courtesy of his late-2024 masterclass, GNX. After last year’s dominant run, capped by him ultimately claiming song and record of the year for “Not Like Us” at the Grammys in February, Lamar is looking to go back-to-back, with “Luther” also recognized in both categories. Joining him in the Big Four categories are fellow rap titans Tyler, The Creator and the Clipse, both of whom are nominated for album of the year. Tyler’s Chromokopia flexed his creative range and unfiltered candor, while Clipse’s unapologetic return to their trademark druglord narratives with Let God Sort Em Out sparked a wave of critical acclaim and Grammy contention.

The women of hip-hop also showed out in this year’s nominations, further proving the genre’s depth. Doechii, Cardi B, and GloRilla each earned major recognition, underscoring why rap remains in a healthy, evolving place despite outside noise. Doechii, who claimed best rap album last year, scored six more nominations on the strength of her viral smash “Anxiety” and the enduring impact of Alligator Bites Never Heal. Likewise, GloRilla’s 2024 comeback has catapulted her back to the top of the food chain, marking a powerful redemption run.

See what else Billboard has to say about this year’s hip-hop nominees below.

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From The Weeknd to Gracie Abrams, Which Snubbed Artist Should’ve Gotten a 2026 Grammy Nod? Vote!

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Numerous artists are currently flying high after scoring 2026 Grammy nominations on Friday (Nov. 7) –but there are also several major contenders who didn’t get quite as lucky.

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Despite garnering major award buzz this past year, stars such as The Weeknd, Gracie Abrams and Alex Warren didn’t get recognized in certain categories, which were unveiled Friday morning in a livestream on the Grammy website. The absence of the artist born Abel Tesfaye from the nominations list was particularly noticeable, as he had just reconciled with the academy last year and dropped Billboard 200-topping album Hurry Up Tomorrow in February. But while Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter and Bad Bunny got honors in the album of the year category, The Weeknd did not.

Both Abrams and Warren were also excluded from the major categories, with neither “That’s So True” nor “Ordinary” getting song or record of the year consideration, even though those were two of the biggest Billboard Hot 100-charting tracks of the year. Warren at least scored a nod for best new artist, but that category was also missing several big names, including Zach Top, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley and Ravyn Lenae.

The producer of the year, non classical category will turn heads for the second year in a row as well, as Jack Antonoff — who was notably excluded from the list in 2025 — once again did not make the cut. That comes in spite of his work on two album of theyear contenders, Lamar’s GNX and Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, both of which spent time at No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart. Instead, Dan Auerbach, Cirkut, Dijon, Blake Mills and Sounwave will fight it out for the prize.

But while the academy’s word is final, it’s your turn to share how you feel about the outcome of the initial voting process this year. Have any strong feelings on which snubbed artist was the most deserving of recognition? We want to know.

Tell us who you think should have been nominated in a category they were shut out of by voting in the poll below.

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Pete Davidson Surprises on ‘SNL,’ Jokes About Ferry Boat He Bought With Colin Jost: Watch

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Pete Davidson returned to Saturday Night Live for a surprise appearance on Nov. 8.

The comedian and actor, who was an SNL cast member from 2014 to 2022, crashed the “Weekend Update” segment to poke fun at a recent article about a decommissioned Staten Island ferry he purchased with Colin Jost in 2022. The two had planned to transform the vessel into an upscale entertainment venue.

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The New York Times recently ran an article calling the Staten Island Ferry that I purchased with Pete Davidson a ‘money-losing fiasco.’ With more on this, is Pete Davidson,” Jost said in introducing The King of Staten Island star.

“Colin, you’re looking great as ever. [Michael] Che, starting to crack,” Davidson joked, mentioning his recent appearance at the 2025 Riyadh Comedy Festival and that he’s expecting his first child.

“So yeah, in case you’re wondering why I had to do a show in Saudi Arabia, we’re losing millions on this ferry,” he continued. “I assume that’s what the article says. I can’t spend $5 on a paywall when I got a kid on the way.”

Davidson and Jost then continued trading jokes about the 2,109-ton ferry, which they bought at a New York auction for $280,100.

“We even gave the boat a new name,” Davidson said. “We thought the Staten Island Ferry sounded too depressing, so now it’s called the Titanic 2.” Jost added, “That’s right, and it’s actually going very well. Recently, we got paid by Nike to put an ad on it for the New York City Marathon.”

Earlier on Saturday, Davidson told People that he’d “do anything” for SNL boss Lorne Michaels, saying he’d return to the show if asked.

“I had a great time hosting last time, and anytime you get that call, it’s an honor and a privilege,” the eight-season SNL vet said. “It’s always relevant, it’s a hot show. People look forward to it, and the cast is great.”

Saturday’s episode was hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, with singer-songwriter Sombr serving as the musical guest.

Watch SNL’s “Weekend Update” segment with Davidson below, and find all the ways to stream the full episode here.

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