Entertainment
Interscope Geffen A&M Launches 2nd HBCU Campaign With New ‘Homecoming SZN’ Album Featuring Kendrick Lamar & More

It’s college homecoming season once again, and Interscope Geffen A&M Records is releasing the next vinyl-exclusive album in its ongoing yearlong HBCU campaign: Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 2. This year, the label is partnering with Hampton University, Clark Atlanta University, and Alabama State University for immersive activations during their festivities.
Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 2 — whose covers feature custom vinyl artwork designed for each university — includes hits from Kendrick Lamar (“TV Off”), GloRilla (“BOP”), Rob49 (“WTHelly”) and Eve (“Tambourine”). A special consumer edition is also available at select retailers and on the project’s website. In turn, Interscope will donate $3 from each vinyl sale to the corresponding university. The label will also provide funding to support various initiatives across the campuses.
“Homecoming is a treasured tradition at Hampton University, celebrating our history, culture and community,” said Hampton University president Darrell K. Williams in a statement. “We are excited to partner with Interscope Geffen A&M Records to bring this innovative Homecoming SZN initiative to our campus. Music has always been a powerful bridge between generations, and this collaboration gives our students a chance to showcase their creativity while connecting with a legacy that extends far beyond our campus.”
Launched last October, Interscope’s HBCU campaign initially partnered with Howard University, Tennessee State University and Texas Southern University. In honor of the campaign’s first anniversary and the release of its second compilation, the label will mark the start of homecoming week with a pop-up student event at Howard University on Oct. 22. A celebrity DJ set by DJ Blaccmass, giveaways and surprise appearances by Interscope artists are among the festivities.
From there, the initiative moves to Clark Atlanta University, which will feature a performance by Big Boogie (also on the compilation with “BOP”) at the college’s official homecoming concert on Oct. 22 plus a pop-up takeover on homecoming weekend Oct. 24-25. 1824, the culture marketing and creative strategy team of Interscope parent Universal Music Group, will also take student applications for part-time work roles at each university. Additional university partnerships and spring 2026 activations will be announced in the coming months.
“We’re thrilled to build on the momentum of Vol. 1 and expand this meaningful initiative to even more HBCU campuses,” stated Laura Carter, exec. vp/head of urban marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “HBCUs have been a bedrock of culture and creativity, and this initiative is about honoring that legacy.”
Entertainment
Sombr & Olivia Dean to Make ‘Saturday Night Live’ Debuts, With Glen Powell Set to Host for First Time

A few of music’s biggest rising stars are getting big breaks this fall, with Saturday Night Live announcing Friday (Oct. 17) that Sombr and Olivia Dean will make their musical guest debuts on upcoming episodes.
Sombr will perform on the episode airing Nov. 8, which Nikki Glaser will host. The week prior, Miles Teller will helm an episode airing Nov. 1, with Brandi Carlile serving as musical guest for the third time in her career.
Then, Dean will perform at 30 Rock on Nov. 15. Teller’s Top Gun: Maverick costar Glen Powell is set to host for the first time.
The news comes as both Sombr and Dean’s careers are taking off. The former’s breakout hit “Back to Friends” made him a Gen Z alt-pop sensation, peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. He’s currently riding the success of his debut album, I Barely Know Her, which helped propel him to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriter’s Chart.
The latter is one of the most promising singer-songwriters of 2025, earning critical acclaim for her new album, The Art of Loving. So far, the project has reached a peak of No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and Dean is currently on tour in support of the LP.
The trio of new musical guest announcements mark just the latest stars SNL has booked for this season. This weekend, Sabrina Carpenter will make her debut as host in addition to performing tracks from her Billboard 200-topping album Man’s Best Friend.
Bad Bunny also returned to SNL to host for a second time on Oct. 4, while Role Model recently made his musical guest debut.
Entertainment
Taylor Swift Dominates U.K. Albums & Singles Charts for Second Consecutive Week

Taylor Swift has retained the top spots on the U.K.’s Official Albums and Singles charts for a second consecutive week on the tallies dated Friday (Oct. 17).
The Life of a Showgirl holds on to the top spot on the Albums chart, while its lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” extends its stay at the summit of the Singles chart for a second consecutive week. The latter is the first time in three years that one of Swift’s singles has enjoyed a run of multiple weeks in the top spot. “Anti-Hero” from 2022’s Midnights earned six weeks at No. 1, while “Fortnight” (2024) and “Is It Over Now?” (2023) lasted just a single week.
The Life of a Showgirl broke numerous records on its way to No. 1 in the U.K. The record had the fastest selling opening week (423,00 units) since Ed Sheeran’s 2017 LP Divide (672,000). It also became the fastest selling album on vinyl this century in the U.K., and fastest ever since records modern Official Chart records began in 1994.
The Life of a Showgirl is her 14th U.K. No. 1 album; she also extends her lead with the most No. 1s on the U.K. Albums Chart for an international artist, and is tied for second overall with The Rolling Stones (14). The top spot is also currently a tie between The Beatles and Robbie Williams, who both have 15 apiece.
Olivia Dean takes the runner-up spot on both the Official Albums Chart and Singles Chart with The Art of Loving and its breakout song, “Man I Need,” both topping out at No. 2. Earlier this month, Dean achieved a rare double for a British artist with No. 1s on the aforementioned charts.
Fresh off his Oasis support slots, former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft earns the No. 3 spot on the Official Albums Chart with Lovin’ You. Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend closes at No. 4, and The Weeknd’s greatest hits compilation The Highlights lands at No. 5.
On the Singles Chart, “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters ends the week at No. 3, having already enjoyed an eight-week run at the summit. Swift’s “Opalite” (No. 4) and “Elizabeth Taylor” (No. 6) continue to see success, while RAYE’s “Where Is My Husband!” lifts one place to No. 5.
Entertainment
Morgan Wallen Notches Fifth Country Airplay No. 1 From ‘I’m the Problem’ With ‘I Got Better’

Morgan Wallen delivers his 19th career No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “I Got Better” rises two spots to top the Oct. 25-dated survey, up 13% to 32.7 million audience impressions Oct. 10-16, according to Luminate.
The Joey Moi-produced single — with seven cowriters including Wallen, Ernest, HARDY and Blake Pendergrass — becomes the fifth No. 1 from Wallen’s album I’m the Problem, released in May. One more chart-topper from the set and he’d match the six from his 2023 LP, One Thing at a Time, which remains tied for the one-album record (discounting deluxe editions) with Luke Bryan’s 2015 Kill the Lights.
Boosting the profile of “I Got Better,” its official video premiered Oct. 1.
Think you know music?
Play Billboard’s Daily Crossword now!
I’m the Problem has led Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for its first 21 weeks, followed at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on the Oct. 18-dated ranking by One Thing at a Time and Wallen’s 2021 release, Dangerous: The Double Album. Together, the three projects form one of the most formidable runs in modern country music history, combining for 205 weeks at No. 1 (with a record 97 frames at the summit belonging to Dangerous).
Before topping Country Airplay, “I Got Better” completed a full-format sweep, hitting No. 1 on the Oct. 18 Hot Country Songs chart thanks to 13.2 million official U.S. streams, 31 million in radio audience and 1,000 sold. The win gave I’m the Problem four leaders on the list, equaling the output of One Thing at a Time.
Above the Chimney Tops
Lainey Wilson breaks into the Country Airplay top 10 (12-10) with “Somewhere Over Laredo” rising 9% to 16 million in audience. The song, which interpolates “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, is her ninth top 10. It’s from the September deluxe edition of her 2024 album, Whirlwind.
-
Entertainment7 months ago
New Kid and Family Movies in 2025: Calendar of Release Dates (Updating)
-
Entertainment4 months ago
Brooklyn Mirage Has Been Quietly Co-Managed by Hedge Fund Manager Axar Capital Amid Reopening Drama
-
Tech7 months ago
The best sexting apps in 2025
-
Entertainment6 months ago
Kid and Family TV Shows in 2025: New Series & Season Premiere Dates (Updating)
-
Tech8 months ago
Every potential TikTok buyer we know about
-
Tech8 months ago
iOS 18.4 developer beta released — heres what you can expect
-
Tech8 months ago
Are You an RSSMasher?
-
Politics8 months ago
DOGE-ing toward the best Department of Defense ever