Jon Batiste, Ledisi, Trombone Shorty & More to Perform at 2025 Superbowl Pregame

The NFL has set its star-studded pregame entertainment lineup for Super Bowl LIX, which will air live on Fox on Feb. 9, 2025 from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Jon Batiste will perform the National Anthem, while Ledisi will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and Trombone Shorty will accompany Lauren Daigle for "America the Beautiful."

"We're honored to work with this year's pregame lineup to celebrate the rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state. The Super Bowl is a rare moment to unite fans around the world, and this year's performers will bring the energy, soul and vibrant sounds of the region to a global stage, as we kickoff Super Bowl LIX with a celebration to remember." -NFL music head; Seth Dudowsky

Coco Jones Releases Holiday EP "Coco By the Fireplace"

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Coco Jones has released her Holiday EP Coco By the Fireplace.

The 4-track project features all original Christmas songs and follows after previous singles “Sweep It Up” & “Here We Go (Uh Oh)”.

New Music: Koffee Brown - "Simple Things" (Produced by KayGee Gist)

After coming out the gate swinging this past summer from the success of their hit single "About It", Koffee Brown is back with another amazing track "Simple Things". This is the second single off their forthcoming 2025 EP project.

They team up once again with producer KayGee Gist of the Iconic Hip Hop trio Naughty by Nature, ensuring this will be another smash hit. The duo also wrote and co produced it with him. This new mid tempo single is sure to become one the most requested song on the radio. In the new single, Vee and Ryan's voices glides effortlessly over the heartfelt melodies delivering profound lyrics. It will take you on a feel good journey. That will captivate listeners to grove upon first listen of everyone who hears it.

"Simple Things" is a song that expresses the true essence of universal love across the board for that special person in your life that you cherish wholeheartedly; it's a cross-generational love song for all ages" -Koffee Brown.

New Music: Will Preston - "Merry Go Round"

On the heels of his latest nomination for SoulTracks Male Vocalist of the Year, Will returns with Merry Go Round, a riveting and soulful Pop ballad that dives deep into the agony of a relationship teetering between love and despair. The song’s powerful lyrics expose the intensity of a love that refuses to let go, with both partners seemingly asking to stop the ride, yet never willing to step off.

Merry Go Round captures the volatile dance of a love that's hard to quit, with unspoken toxicity resonating through every line. The refrain, "What do I have to do so I’ll get over you and get off of this merry-go-round?" reflects the raw desperation of a love caught in an endless cycle, even when escape seems like the only option. The powerful line, "It's insane we know the problem, but we just don't seem to care," perfectly sums up the painful dynamic of trying to move on, only to end up in the same place.

Preston’s signature blend of lyrical depth and rich vocals takes center stage in Merry Go Round. The track’s smooth pop rhythms and Will’s polished delivery pulls listeners into the emotional turmoil of a relationship that lingers long after it should have ended. It’s a song that resonates deeply, offering a powerful narrative of emotional entanglement that fans won’t soon forget.

Will’s songs explore the complexities of love, relationships, and self-discovery, offering listeners raw emotion and relatability. With several successful releases under his belt, Preston's evolving catalog has earned him a dedicated and expanding legion of fans worldwide. His latest single, Merry Go Round, showcases his ability to captivate audiences with soulful ballads that reflect the emotional intensity of love's highs and lows.

Whether through his music or his latest venture as the founder of his very own clothing line, My Best Interest Apparel, Preston continues to push creative boundaries, cementing his status as a multifaceted artist who continues to rise.

Visit Will online:

IG: @thewillpreston

TikTok: @yepthewillpreston

X: @thewillpreston

YouTube: thewillpreston

Facebook: willprestonmusic

Website: willpreston.com and mybestinterestapparel.com

New Video: Jon B. Releases Visual for "Natural Drug" Co-starring Cynthia Bailey

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Jon B. shares the release of his seductive new single “Natural Drug” and its accompanying music video which co-stars model, actress and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey.

“Natural Drug” follows Jon B.’s previous single “Waiting On You” featuring Tank and is available on all streaming and digital music platforms.

New Music: Eric Roberson Releases Holiday Single "The Greatest Gift"

 

Grammy nominated R&B/Soul singer, songwriter and record producer Eric Roberson shares the release of his new original Holiday single "The Greatest Gift" via Blue Erro Soul Entertainment.

Written by Roberson and Dana T. Sorey (also serving as producer along with Brett "BDubb" Baker), "The Greatest Gift" serves as the lead single from Roberson's upcoming Christmas project, The Greatest Gift: An Eric Roberson Christmas which drops November 25th.

"This song captures the warmth and love of the season, and I hope it brings joy to you and yours." -Eric Roberson

In support of the project, Eric Roberson announced 10-city limited tour dates. Click HERE for more details.

Mary J. Blige Releases Fifteenth Studio Album "Gratitude"

The legendary Mary J. Blige has released her fifteenth studio album Gratitude via Mary Jane Productions, Inc./300 Entertainment.

The 12-track album includes the Billboard No. 1 Adult R&B Radio Hit "Breathing" and follow-up single "You Ain't the Only One" and features guest appearances by Jadakiss, Fat Joe, A$AP Ferg and Fabolous.

Mary J. Blige has announced her upcoming For My Fans Tour with Ne-Yo & Mario. See HERE

New Music: Angie Stone Releases Holiday Single "All I'm Missing"

Three-time Grammy nominated R&B/Soul legend Angie Stone shares the release of her new holiday single "All I'm Missing" featuring Juanita Wynn & J. Brown on all streaming and digital music platforms via Conjunction Entertainment.

Written by Angie Stone, Ivan Johnson, Joseph Leavy and Juanita Wynn, "All I'm Missing" is sure to warm and touch the hearts of every household, inspiring us to remember the ones we love and can’t be with for the holidays.

RIAA: Chris Brown Earns 18 Gold, Platinum & Multi-Platinum Certifications

Grammy Award-winning R&B Icon Chris Brown earns 18 new Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums and singles certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The certifications span over two albums: Indigo (2019) 3x Platinum and Breezy (2022) Gold and several singles over his career including his first Diamond certified single "No Guidance" ft. Drake 11x Platinum.

Ruben Studdard Releases First-Ever Christmas Project "My Favorite Holiday"

Multi Award-winning singer, songwriter and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard has released his first-ever Christmas project My Favorite Holiday.

The five-song EP was led by the lead single of the same-name via Origins Records/Hitmaker Music Group.

“I have always wanted to do a Christmas project and for some reason, it was always put on the back burner. Then about two years ago, my friend, Producer and M/D John Jackson and I decided to start on the music and allow for it to land wherever, when we finished. So, two years of off and on, and we now have this EP. The process of recording the project was fun, but also very nostalgic. I grew up singing a lot of these tunes and it always makes me feel happy to remember holiday memories of old." -Ruben Studdard

Unreleased Whitney Houston Song "Love Is" (Written by Carvin Winans)

RCA Records and Sony Music unveils the release of a long unreleased song by the late-great legendary Whitney Houston entitled "Love Is".

Written by Carvin Winans of The Winans, the track was recorded during the I'm Your Baby Tonight sessions and remained unreleased until now to coincide with the release of Houston's live album, Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa. (Durban), available in stores and online.

"'Love Is' talks about how strong love can be if we put it into action, and no one brings that message across more convincingly than the greatest female singer to ever live, Whitney Houston." -Carvin Winans

Ella Mai Releases New EP '3'

Grammy Award-winning British singer-songwriter Ella Mai has dropped a three-track surprise EP entitled 3 in celebratory of her 30th Birthday.

3 follows Ella Mai's 2022 full-length album Heart On My Sleeve.

Tyrese's "Wildflower" Tops Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Six-time Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and actor Tyrese tops the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart with his latest single "Wildflower" after 17 weeks on this chart. 

Produced by Brandon "BAM" Hodge and the legendary David Foster, "Wildflower" is a cover of Skylark's 1972 original recording.

"Wildflower" follows Tyrese's previous singles "Love Transaction" & "Don't Think You Ever Loved Me" and is included on his new album Beautiful Pain available on all digital music platforms.

"Wildflower" is Tyrese's fourth No. 1 entry on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart following "Shame", "Stay" & "How You Gonna Act Like That" and his 9th Top 10 overall.

Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank (TGT), Bell Biv BeVoe and Silk team up for the R&B Forever Tour. Click HERE for additional info.

Mario Announces Upcoming Album "Glad You Came"

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Mario took to social media to announce his upcoming sixth studio album Glad You Came on December 13th via his independent label imprint New Citizen/Epic Records.

The album is led by the single "Space".

Mario is set to embark on the For My Fans 2025 Tour alongside Mary J. Blige & Ne-Yo.

New Music: Noel Gourdin - "Celebration" (from Upcoming Album "Back to Basics")

R&B/Soul singer-songwriter Noel Gourdin shares the release of his new single "Celebration" on all streaming and digital music platforms.

 

"Celebration" follows Gourdin's previous singles "You (I'm Ready)" & "Getcha" and will appear on his upcoming album Back to Basics.

New Video: Calvin Richardson - "Ready for the Weekend"

Multi-Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter Calvin Richardson has released the official music video for his single "Ready for the Weekend" via CRE Enterprises/Music Matters Entertainment in partnership with The SRG-ILS Group/Virgin Music Group.

Written and produced by Calvin Richardson and Demonte Posey, "Ready for the Weekend" comes courtesy of Richardson's latest studio album Five Years Later... available on all digital music platforms.

NBC Announces "A Motown Christmas" | Hosted by Smokey Robinson & Halle Bailey

Christmas just got a little more smooth. NBC's A Motown Christmas will combine the sounds of Motor City and the spirit of Christmas for an unforgettable night of music and fun. Read on to find out more about the exciting special event.

The two-hour event is set for Wednesday, December 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be available the next day on Peacock.

Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey are slated to co-host the event, which will feature performances from some of the most exciting artists of the day, including, Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Jamie Foxx, JoJo, October London, mgk, Pentatonix, Jordin Sparks, and the cast of the Broadway show MJ The Musical.

There will also be performances from Motown legends like Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations. The 11-piece live band for A Motown Christmas will be led by Emmy Award-winning musical director Rickey Minor.

Award-winning actress and dancer Debbie Allen is one of the executive producers of the event, and said in a statement, “The music of Motown has always been magical, and we are going to sing and dance everyone into Christmas joy!".

Specifically, Halle Bailey will perform a medley of songs celebrating Diana Ross and the Supremes, Jamie Foxx will lead a celebration of Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits alongside BeBe Winans, Jordin Sparks, and Andra Day. October London and JoJo will honor the late Marvin Gaye, and mgk will sing a new rendition of “Last Christmas." 

Andra Day will also perform a special tribute to the founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy, who wrote and produced many hit songs.

“Motown’s timeless hits have played as a soundtrack for American families for the last eight decades,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events & Specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment. “NBC is honored to spotlight the iconic legacy of Motown with a festive celebration for the holiday season.”

New Video: Koffee Brown ft. Vinnie Rock of Naughty By Nature - "About It"

The R&B recording duo Koffee Brown has released their music video for their current single "About It" featuring Vinnie Rock of the iconic legendary Hip Hop trio Naughty By Nature via their official @KoffeeBrownMusic Channel on YouTube.

"About It" music video was directed by Eric Elfstrom (Elfstrom Media LLC).

The video is visually stimulating, with visionary cinematography - it was filmed in Newark, and East Orange, NJ. Which also played part of the back drop of showcasing the simple scenery of the city. He captured Vee and Ryan in their elements of having fun & enjoying the moment with a hint of seduction!

Koffee Brown states: "'About It', is that feeling of sexy, sensual and freeing!

Where you are able to express how you feel about your desires!"

"About It" the single is from their upcoming 2025 independent project-It's a mere prelude of what longtime fans and new ones can expect from Koffee Brown's amazing return to true R&B music. "About It" is available on all digital music outlets.

New Album: Rhona Bennett - "Instant Classic"

 Rhona Bennett, known to fans as Miss RNB and Coach Rho—has captivated audiences from her 'big break' debut under the guidance of media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey to her dynamic contribution as a long-standing member of the legendary group En Vogue. Today, she’s taking yet another monumental step with the release of her highly anticipated album, Instant Classic. 

Her journey from “Brewster Place” to the “All New Mickey Mouse Club”—the talent incubator that launched some of the biggest stars today—proves that Rhona is not only a vocalist and performer, but also a legend in her own right. As the “First Lady of Darkchild,” Rhona’s career has spanned genres, charts, and stages across the world, including a beloved role on The Jamie Foxx Show and, for over 20 years, as part of the “Funky Divas”, touring and recording with En Vogue. 

But Instant Classic isn’t just another album release—it’s an experience. With songs that blend her electrifying presence as Miss RNB and her transformative insights as Coach Rho, Rhona gives listeners both the music they crave and the messages they need. This is music that moves you and keeps you moving toward your highest self. 

Featuring the namesake “Instant Classic” and “Not Far,” each song explores themes of love, alignment, and inner power, reminding fans that life is not just to be lived but felt deeply. Her recent releases, “WE” (which hit #2 on the Amazon Music UK R&B charts), “Butterfly” (an inspired collaboration with the creators of the iconic Reading Rainbow theme song), and “All On You” (an infectious anthem about the power of choice), showcase her distinct ability to both entertain and empower.

Instant Classic is proudly promoted by Soulcravers, a trailblazing platform for indie artists, helping artists like Rhona connect their music with global radio stations and fans worldwide. This album is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a celebration of soul, resilience, and rhythm.