Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

Last week, we featured Olivia Rodrigo, sombr and Nine Inch Noize.

This week, Noah Kahan makes his triumphant return with his stellar fourth album, The Great Divide; Kehlani releases her classic R&B self-titled set; and Suki Waterhouse previews her upcoming album Loveland out this summer… plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Noah Kahan, The Great Divide

On Kahan’s fourth album (out tonight), he showcases just how sharp his songwriting, vocals and musicianship have become — so sharp, in fact, that they cut deeper than his previous releases. As a result, he opens himself up like never before, narrating various perspectives and perceptions held by his friends, family and hometown and analyzing in real time the impact it has all had on him.

Kehlani, Kehlani

Following the success of “Folded,” Kehlani knew it was time to double down on classic sounding R&B and pour that passion into her self-titled album. Billboard ranked closing track “Unlearn” as the project’s best, with Kyle Denis writing: “Once upon a time, R&B albums used to end with a gospel song, a cover of a hymn, or some kind of dedication to the faith, family and friends that made the project possible. Leave it to Kehlani to bring back those recipes…Gospel will always be a part of R&B, and when the secular meets the sacred, incredible music comes to life.”

Suki Waterhouse, “Tiny Raisin”

True to form, Suki Waterhouse takes listeners on a ride with “Tiny Raisin.” What starts with the vivid description of becoming a “tiny raisin” from soaking too long in the tub evolves into an ode to “her man” (aka Robert Pattinson). But it’s not quite a love song — rather, it’s a vent session. “Molly said that I should leave him/ And for a moment we aligned, but then I changed my mind/ And I hung up like the crazy bitch I am.” Throughout, Waterhouse details that while they may “break up, make up, do it all over again,” at the end of the day they always “laugh it off” — especially because, as she says, “he’s so fine/ and he’s all mine.”

Hayley Kiyoko and Gigi Perez, “Collide”

During weekend two of Coachella, Hayley Kiyoko popped out during Gigi Perez’s set to duet on the former’s hit “Girls Like Girls.” Turns out, that’s not all the two had planned: today, they share their new collab, “Collide.” The laid-back, emotional track is the first from the upcoming soundtrack to Kiyoko’s directorial debut, Girls Like Girls, out in June. As Kiyoko wrote on Instagram, “the soundtrack I wish I had when I was 16 is finally yours june 12. starting this chapter the best way possible.”

Dylan Gosset, “My Boy”

Since releasing his self-produced debut album, Westward, last year, rising singer-songwriter Dylan Gossett has kept momentum with new music including latest track “My Boy.” As the title suggests, the song is a beautiful message to his son (his and his wife’s first child, which they announced on Instagram last November) that functions as Gossett’s parental vow. “I’ll think about the things you’ll do and your momma does too/ Oh I hope you got her eyes and her soul too/ So when you need me I’ll be there when you need a little care/ I’ll be your rock to steady on, boy I swear.”

Want rock? Got rock. Foo Fighters press send on Your Favorite Toy, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inducted band’s 12 studio album.

From the top, Your Favorite Toy is something to be played with. It’s raw rock from Dave Grohl and Co., housing the previously released cut “Caught In The Echo,” the title track, and “All of the People,” which the band recently performed live at the historic, 80-seat St James Church in Dingle, Ireland.

The Foos will give the album a good, solid push April 25 on the Saturday Night Live UK (Sky One), with the release of the official music video for “Window” (directed by Jake Erland), and a major jaunt, the Take Cover Tour. Earlier, the Foos previewed the album’s tracks on their website via a clickable, throwback landing page in which snippets were embedded in images of the band in the studio and on stage.

The new collection is “the most fun we’ve had making a record in years,” Grohl tells Classic Rock. The band approached it with “no rules, no pressure — just the joy of plugging in and seeing what happens.” The result, a 10-track, 36 minute effort that’s “loud, it’s melodic, it’s weird in places… but it feels like us. It feels alive.”

According to a presser ahead of the release, the LP was recorded at home and co-produced by the band and Oliver Roman (The Cribs, Wolfmother), and features the recorded debut of new drummer Ilan Rubin, who took over for Josh Freese, the veteran timekeeper who filled in for late drummer Taylor Hawkins for two years until he was dismissed by the band last May.

It’s the followup to 2023’s But Here We Are, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, for the band’s 10th top tier entry, a tally that includes two leaders (Wasting Light from 2011 and Concrete And Gold from 2017).

The Foos’ forthcoming world tour gets going with a handful of U.S. dates, starting next Tuesday, April 28 with a sold-out show at Total Mortgage Arena, in Bridgeport, CT. Then, a pan-European tour that’s slated to kick off June 10 at Unity Arena in Oslo, Norway, following by another massive North America run in August and September. Australia and New Zealand will host the rockers in November, and again in January 2027.

Watch the music video for “Window” and stream Your Favorite Toy in full below.

Between mixed reviews from critics and feverish anticipation from fans around the world, Michael is all but guaranteed to dominate the global box office this weekend. But a key figure from the King of Pop’s young adult years is conspicuously absent from the new film.

On Thursday (April 23), Kat Graham — who was cast as Diana Ross in the film back in March 2024 — took to her official Instagram Story to explain why she no longer appears in the Antoine Fuqua-helmed musical biopic.

“I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including ones I filmed with an incredible cast,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, those moments are no longer part of the final cut, though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible.”

Not only was Ross’ alleged discovery of The Jackson 5 a key part of Motown’s marketing and promotional plan for the then-burgeoning family band, but The Supremes frontwoman would also appear on the silver screen alongside MJ in 1978’s The Wiz. And that’s not to mention the close friendship the two legends shared outside of the industry.

In addition to Graham, who’s best known for her work in The Vampire Diaries, that March 2024 casting announcement also confirmed the involvement of Larenz Tate (as Motown founder Berry Gordy), Kendrick Sampson (as Quincy Jones), Jessica Sula (as LaToya Jackson), Kevin Shinick (as Dick Clark) and Liv Symone (as Gladys Knight). Each of those actors, save for Graham, still appears in the blockbuster biopic, which hits theaters on Friday.

Michael has been plagued by legal issues throughout its production process. One version of the script reportedly had to be stripped of all references to Jackson’s child sexual abuse allegations after his estate discovered a settlement clause that forbade any mention of Jordan Chandler, one of MJ’s accusers, in the film.

Penned by John Logan, Michael covers Jackson’s legendary life and career from his 1960s Jackson 5 days to his seismic late-’80s Bad Tour. Jaafar Jackson, the son of Jermaine Jackson and MJ’s nephew, portrays his uncle, leading a cast comprised of two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (as Joe Jackson), Emmy nominee Miles Teller (as entertainment lawyer John Branca), three-time NAACP Image Award winner Nia Long (as Katherine Jackson), Actor Award nominee Laura Harrier (as Suzanne de Passe), and Emmy winner Mike Myers (as music industry executive Walter Yetnikoff).

Click here to read Kat Graham’s full explanation for Diana Ross’ absence in the Michael biopic.

Jack Harlow is back in the news again, but it’s not about his controversial Monica rollout this time.

The Kentucky rapper is now making headlines after telling Rolling Stone that he thought Drake was the “best rapper alive” after listening to the Canadian MC’s 2015 album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.

“I remember vividly this album coming out and me being like, ‘Oh, Drake’s the best rapper alive,’” he recalled. “Right then. It was powerful. Powerful.”

Harlow was also asked what the experience was like when he finally got the chance to work with Drake on their single “Churchhill Downs,” and he seemed to be in awe to have the privilege to watch one of the biggest artists in the world do what they do best.

“It was an amazing experience,” Harlow said. “He recorded the verse in front of me. Watching him work, not punching in, delivering that whole way through. It’s just cool to see a rapper be a rapper and not be some packaged thing that a team is putting together. He’s a rapper. He can perform the act. He can do it. That might sound like a given, but it’s not always like that, I feel like. It’s so cool to see the skillset in real time.”

In other Drake news, the rapper is set to drop his highly anticipated ninth solo album Iceman next month, on May 15. Still no word on a track list or features yet, so we’re not sure if Harlow might reunite with Drizzy.

You can watch the full conversation below.

Zara Larsson gives a lot of credit to Tate McRae for inviting her to open on the Miss Possessive Tour last year, a major steppingstone that helped the Swedish pop star reach her still-unfolding breakout moment in 2026. But at the time, some of her fans questioned why she wasn’t the one headlining major arenas instead of the Canadian hitmaker.

On a new episode of Call Her Daddy posted Wednesday (April 22), Larsson addressed those comments. Starting off by calling McRae “incredible” and noting that their pairing was a “perfect match,” the 28-year-old performer speculated that certain people may have pitted her against her tourmate because she’s “been doing this for longer.”

“I’m older,” Larsson continued. “And maybe some people felt like I deserved to be in the arena.”

Her response to those people? “I’m like, ‘Well, buy the ticket then,’” Larsson said frankly. “That’s not Tate’s fault.”

The “Midnight Sun” singer opened for McRae for about two months on the Miss Possessive trek, playing arenas such as Madison Square Garden in New York City, the United Center in Chicago and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. At the very end of the stint, Larsson released what would become her breakthrough album, Midnight Sun, in late September. (She’s now gearing up to drop a deluxe featuring a bevy of guest artists, including Shakira, PinkPantheress, Robyn and more.)

After her final show on the tour, Larsson also shared a photo with McRae on Instagram and wrote, “It’s been strange seeing some people putting us against each other when we’re just two pop girls who love and support each other back stage!”

But on Call Her Daddy, she elaborated, “I think it’s just the nature of how people speak about girls in pop.

“We are similar in the sense that we both dance, although she’s a way better dancer,” Larsson added. “And I do pop, she does pop. I think it’s easier to root for someone who’s an underdog, you know?”

Both performers will be honored at this year’s Billboard Women in Music ceremony, with Larsson set to take home the Breakthrough prize and McRae to receive the Hitmaker recognition.

Watch Larsson’s full interview on Call Her Daddy above.

Nick Jonas wants you to get up close and personal.

Following the release of his solo album Sunday Best (via Republic Records), the Jonas Brother announces a special run of intimate shows across six east coast cities this June, all bearing the name A Night With Nick.

A Night With Nick will get underway June 4 at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, NY; visit venues in Hanover, MD; Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA, Danville, VA; and wraps up June 13 at Hard Rock in Atlantic City, NJ.

According to reps, Jonas will showcase songs from Sunday Best alongside fan-favorite tracks from his catalog, and more in what will be a limited series of shows.

Sunday Best opened at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was led by the single “Gut Punch,” which Jonas debuted live last November while on tour in Las Vegas, and later performed on The Tonight Show.

It’s Jonas’ fifth solo album, and the follow-up to 2021’s Spaceman, which reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200. Since then, he released two albums with brothers Joe and Kevin: 2023’s The Album and 2025’s Greetings From Your Hometown, both of which charted in the top 10.

Later in the year, the JoBro and Power Ballad star will take a sharp turn when he co-stars with Kathryn Newton (Ready or Not 2: Here I Come) in MRC’s holiday horror film White Elephant. According to Deadline, the film directed by Eli Craig (Clown in a Cornfield) will tell the story of “Eight friends. One prize. Zero trust. Their annual festive holiday gift exchange spirals into a cutthroat game of Christmas carnage.” Jonas is among the producers through his Powered By Jonas company.

Go large with the popcorn, because Jonas is slated to co-star in a bunch of big screen projects, including the latest Jumanji sequel from Columbia Pictures, alongside Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart, and he’s also on board for the high-stakes thriller Bodyman, from director Gary Fleder (Reacher).

Pre-sales for A Night with Nick begin today, April 23, from 10:00 am ET, and the general ticket on-sale begins Friday, April 24, at 10:00 am ET.

“A Night With Nick” Dates:

June 4 — Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, NY

June 6 — The HALL at Live!, Hanover, MD

June 7 — The Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

June 10 — Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA

June 11 — The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia, Danville, VA

June 13 — Hard Rock, Atlantic City, NJ

Dark days are in the rearview, the mirrorball is back. Duran Duran’s new era is all disco, baby.

The British new wave legends return with “Free to Love” (via Tape Modern), an ode to the era of party music that exploded from the late ‘70s, when tight rhythm sections collided with funk and glitter on the dancefloor.  

If it evokes Chic’s “Good Times,” there’s a reason for that. “Free to Love” is a collaboration with Nile Rodgers, the latest in a working relationship that stretches back to 1984’s “The Reflex,” the first of Duran Duran’s two songs to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (“A View to a Kill” also topped the singles chart in 1985).

On it, frontman Simon Le Bon sings: “Be free to win or lose / do what you want to do / be free to see it through / out there I’m free to love.”

“Free to Love” is accompanied by an official music video, that dropped in the small hours of Thursday, April 23. The live performance clip is framed like a throwback episode of Top of the Pops, the seminal British weekly music chart show on which Duran Duran were regulars in the 1980s. It all plays out with tongues planted firmly in cheeks, though the sight of founding bass player John Taylor with blonde spiky hair would’ve blown Duranie minds back in the day.

With “Free to Love,” Duran Duran appear to have moved on from their Halloween era, which dawned with their 16^th and latest album, Danse Macabre, a collection that opened and peaked at No. 4 on the Official U.K. Chart in 2023.

The Rock Hall-inducted British band is locked in for a run of 2026 shows, including a residency next month at Bleaulive at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, arena and festival spots in North America and across Continental Europe, and a headline date July 5 at BTS Hyde Park.

Rodgers, too, has a busy itinerary in the months ahead with concerts booked for the U.K. and Europe, North America and elsewhere.

Duran Duran was arguably the biggest band in the world in the first half of the ‘80s, and have survived, and at times, thrived, when so many of their contemporaries were shafted by the changing sands of music. Along the way, the group has collected every conceivable award, including the Brit Awards’ Lifetime Achievement, two Ivor Novellos, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, two Grammy Awards, and, in 2022, long-overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2024, Le Bon was been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles, a salute to his services to music and charity.

Watch the music video below for Duran Duran’s “Free to Love” featuring Nile Rodgers.