NEWS

Sylvia Rhone, a pioneering figure in the music industry and the first Black woman to lead a major record label, will step down as chair and CEO of Sony Music’s Epic Records at the end of the month, Variety has confirmed. Rhone has served as chair and CEO since 2019, following her role as president of the label beginning in 2014. While no successor has been named, sources say label president Zeke Lewis and general manager Rick Sackheim will oversee daily operations in the interim. Rhone’s exit marks the close of a historic chapter in her career, which spans five decades and includes senior leadership roles across all three major record companies. She previously broke barriers at Warner Music in the 1990s, where she became the first Black woman to chair a major label division, and later led Universal Motown before joining Sony. Under her leadership, Epic Records scored chart-topping successes with artists such as 21 Savage, Future, Travis Scott, and Tyla. Sony Music chairman Rob Stringer hailed her as a “trailblazing executive” who has guided some of the most prominent artists of the era.  In a farewell memo to staff, Rhone reflected on her journey, saying she was “proud of [her] achievements and of [her] commitment to those who take inspiration from them.” She added that music’s enduring power lies in its ability to “reflect our world, question our assumptions, and uplift our spirits.” While Rhone has not revealed her next steps, she emphasized her excitement about the future after what she described as her “historic role at Epic.”

Rappers Cardi B and Nicki Minaj recently reignited a bitter public feud on X (formerly Twitter) beginning Sept. 30, with a second night of incendiary posts on Sept. 30–Oct. 1 that quickly turned deeply personal. What began as jabs over album sales and promotional pricing escalated into a torrent of insults, threats and allegations traded between the two rappers, drawing widespread attention across social media and entertainment outlets. The confrontation intensified when both artists targeted one another’s children — most notably Nicki’s repeated attacks on Cardi’s daughter Kulture and Cardi’s retaliatory references to Nicki’s son and family — prompting shock and condemnation from many observers. Tweets from both sides included threats of physical confrontation and graphic insults; examples cited in reporting include Minaj referring to Kulture as a “vulture” and writing, “Your mom is pregnant with another monkey,” while Cardi fired back accusing Minaj of harming her own child and daring her to show up in person. The latest flare-up is the most volatile chapter in a years-long, complicated rivalry between two of hip-hop’s biggest names, one with a history that includes a 2018 physical altercation at Milan Fashion Week and intermittent online spats since. Industry watchers and outlets have noted the real-world risks when celebrity disputes turn personal and invite fan escalation, while media coverage continues to track deleted posts and shifting narratives as the exchange unfolds.

Puerto Rican global superstar Bad Bunny is officially set to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. The announcement came Sunday (Sept. 29), confirming the three-time Grammy winner will take the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026. The performance follows his sold-out residency in Puerto Rico, adding another milestone to his groundbreaking career.  In a statement released by the NFL, Bad Bunny emphasized the cultural weight of the moment. “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL,” he said, underscoring that the performance is bigger than one artist—it’s about legacy and representation. Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, the NFL’s live music entertainment strategist, praised the decision, saying, “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.” NFL executive Jon Barker echoed the sentiment, calling the “MONACO” hitmaker “a natural fit for the iconic slot.” With anticipation already building, Bad Bunny’s halftime show is expected to be one of the most talked-about performances in Super Bowl history.

A towering 10-foot bronze statue of rock ‘n’ roll legend Tina Turner was unveiled Saturday (Sept. 27) in Brownsville, Tennessee, the rural community near where she grew up. The dedication took place during the city’s annual Tina Turner Heritage Days, celebrating the Grammy-winning singer whose electrifying stage presence and timeless hits made her one of the world’s most iconic entertainers. The monument stands just steps away from Turner’s former high school and near Nutbush, the small town immortalized in her classic “Nutbush City Limits.” Sculptor Fred Ajanogha designed the piece to show Turner mid-performance, complete with her wild mane of hair, extended index finger, and a microphone in hand. “I tried to capture her flexibility of movement on stage,” Ajanogha explained, comparing her hair to the “mane of a lion.” The statue was funded in part by donors including Ford Motor Co. Turner, who passed away in May 2023 at the age of 83, left behind an enduring legacy through songs like “Proud Mary,” “Private Dancer,” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” Rising from her early career with Ike Turner to solo superstardom, she became an inspiration across generations, admired by legends such as Mick Jagger, Beyoncé, and Mariah Carey. Now, her hometown community has cemented her memory with a permanent tribute to the “Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll.”