LL Cool J to Host 2025 MTV VMAs and a Busy Weekend for Music News
Happy New Music Friday! This week brings a marquee lineup of live shows, a bold artist partnership, and plenty of new tracks to stream across Apple Music and Spotify. Here are the key moments you’ll want to know about.
LL Cool J to host the 2025 MTV VMAs solo
LL Cool J has been announced as the host of the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, airing September 7 on CBS, MTV and Paramount+. This will mark his first solo hosting stint at the VMAs, following his co-hosting role in 2022 with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow. It’s a notable shift as the veteran entertainer takes the stage to guide one of music’s biggest award nights.
Backstreet Boys expand the Into the Millennium residency at Sphere
Due to overwhelming demand, the Backstreet Boys have added seven more performances to their sold-out Into the Millennium residency at Sphere, including a New Year’s Eve show. The group becomes the first pop act to perform at Sphere, continuing to bring their Millennium album to life in a unique live setting.
ACM Honors adds performers for the 18th edition
The Academy of Country Music announced additional performers for the 18th ACM Honors. New names joining the lineup include Jamey Johnson, Miko Marks, and Victoria Shaw, along with previously announced acts such as Luke Bryan, Russell Dickerson, Karen Fairchild, Carter Faith, Ashley Gorley, Amy Grant, Ashley McBryde, K. Michelle, Carly Pearce and Tucker Wetmore. Carly Pearce and Russell Dickerson will host the event on August 20 in Nashville, celebrating this year’s honorees Lori Badgett, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Mac McAnally, Rissi Palmer, Randy Travis, “Twisters,” Ben Vaughn and Lainey Wilson.
Pharrell Williams launches VIRGINIA
Pharrell Williams has unveiled VIRGINIA, his creative alias, community platform and brand. VIRGINIA is described as a destination where music, fashion, design and community converge. It serves as both a pseudonym and a playground for experimentation, storytelling, and direct connection with fans. Pharrell says Virginia is a space that reflects his origins and his evolving creative identity.
Maroon 5 returns with Love Is Like and announces a U.S. arena tour
Maroon 5 released their eighth studio album, Love Is Like, which features the title track “Love Is Like” with Lil Wayne. The band will launch a national U.S. arena tour beginning October 6, bringing their new material to fans across the country.
New music from leading artists
This week also brings fresh works from Cardi B, Chance The Rapper, Old Dominion, Jordan Davis, Conan Gray and more. Highlights include:
– Imaginary Players – Cardi B
– Love Is Like – Maroon 5
– Star Line – Chance The Rapper
– Late Great Heartbreak – Old Dominion
– Learn The Hard Way – Jordan Davis
– Wishbone – Conan Gray
– Times Square Jesus – The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe)
– In Plain Sight – Khalid
– Jesus, Momma, Country Radio – Chris Young
– Crush – Zara Larsson
– Nice Shoes – Steve Lacy
– MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk) EP – Leon Thomas
– In Our Sight – Skip Marley
– Fragile – Huddy
– Man I Need – Olivia Dean
– Lucky Dimes – The Temper Trap
– You Don’t Look At Me The Same – Mimi Webb
– Famous Back Home – Russell Dickerson
– GHOST. – Armani White feat Samara Cyn
– Earthly Delights – David Archuleta
– BIRTHDAY BEHAVIOR – BIA & Young Miko
– Apodo – Ryan Castro & Grupo Frontero
– Way It Was – Two Friends feat Quinn XCII
– Slow It Down – We The Band
– Flux – Alison Goldfrapp
– Somebody To You – Joy Crookes
– ciego de amor – Julio Caesar
– Every Year – Eliza McLamb
– Plot Twist – AtHeart
– My Full Name – Madison Cunningham
– MS. PAC MAN – Sudan Archives
– Devil Ain’t Done – Atlus
What to watch for
– A renewed emphasis on live performances, cross-genre collaborations, and massive streaming tie-ins means fans have ample content to consume this fall.
– The VMAs and ACM Honors continue to shape how artists are celebrated across genres, signaling ongoing collaboration between pop, country, hip-hop and indie scenes.
– Pharrell’s VIRGINIA signals a broader creative expansion beyond music, potentially influencing fashion, design and community storytelling in new ways.
Summary
A dynamic week for music fans unfolds with a major hosting gig at the VMAs, a landmark residency expansion at Sphere, a country music honors lineup, a new creative platform from Pharrell, a new Maroon 5 album with a national tour, and a deluge of new tracks from top artists across genres.
Fijian Summary
Na siga qo e tokoni kina na ikarua levu ni tamata vakatabakidua ni vuravura ni veilagi me balavu na veiqaravi ni vakamatei: o LL Cool J ena VMA 2025 me baleta na vakatubuvuvu e na Septema 7, vei ira na CBS, MTV kei Paramount+. E na qai vakatovovi koya vei ira na vakamatua vata kei Nicki Minaj kei Jack Harlow ena 2022. Na Backstreet Boys era sa vakarautaka talega na 7 na veivakamacala tani me baleta na nodra residency e Sphere, kei na nona mai tuvradra ni yabaki ni kaloko. E vakaraitaka talega na ACM Honors na kena sa curuma lesu na nodra marautaki na kauwa ni dauveivakadonui kei na veisure. Na Pharrell Williams e sa vakadrodroya tiko na VIRGINIA, na nona iyaloyalo kei na nona vuravura ni veivakadonui. Na Maroon 5 era sa volia na ivola i love is Like kei na nodra tiniwanikuro na vakaikoro ena Amerika. E tuvanaka tale ga na veivosoti vou mai Cardi B, Chance The Rapper, Old Dominion, Jordan Davis, Conan Gray kei na veika tale eso ena gauna qito qo.
Subheading: Veivosaki ni Vosa Vakaviti
Kita na itukutuku ni veiyabaki: o LL Cool J ena VMA 2025, na Backstreet Boys era tiko tiko mai na Sphere, na VIRGINIA era sa vakadrodroya vei keda, na Maroon 5 kei na nona ivola vou, kei na ivakarau ni vuli qito lekaleka. Na veika qo e vakarautaka vei keda na vakabauta ni dua na ivakarau ni veivakadonui e na curu mai e na macawa qo kei na gauna ni masei tale.
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