Fifth Harmony: Pretty Little Fighters

Girl groups were supposed to have been kaput when The X Factor threw together five ambitious teens with hard-knock childhoods. But as Fifth Harmony finally attains the upper reaches of the Hot 100, the tight-knit group finds itself “traumatized” by the strain of prepackaged fame, isolated from family and struggling to stay balanced. Now, they’re eager to assert their opinions on the industry, politics and Kanye West: “We finally have a damn voice.”

Jennifer Nettles: A Star Goes Back To Her Roots

Four years after Sugarland’s split, Jennifer Nettles is supporting Hillary and advocating for female artists (bro country be damned): “It’s in my blood”

Life's Been Good To Niall (So Far)

A year-and-a-half ago, Niall Horan was basking in the shrieks of One Direction superfans. Now, with the group in limbo and his mates making moves in everything from R&B to acting, “the cute one” is painstakingly crafting an album as a California rocker — and hanging with astronauts, Selena Gomez and (yes) the Eagles. All while staying truly hashtag-humble: “I’m a simple old soul, me”

Becoming Chris Cornell

Years before he was minted as a proper platinum-selling star, the late Soundgarden frontman tore off his thrift-store T-shirts and wailed like Robert Plant, transfixing a fledgling Seattle scene with little use for rock gods.

Nathan Sykes Second Act

Nathan Sykes, 23, has risen from the ashes of boy band fame to propel himself as one of this year’s buzziest new artists. 

People Are So Sensitive

Jason Aldean returns from controversy (and blasts “bro country”) ahead of his aptly titled new album, They Don’t Know: “Media tends to make a big deal out of things”

A Leap Of Faith

His 1987 blockbuster made him a global icon. By 1992, he’d sued his record company and turned his back on pop stardom. “He had principles,” says his former manager.

Town And Country

Taylor Swift wrote their latest hit, and the Ryman just honored them with a residency. But lately, the sumptuously soft-rocking Little Big Town come off less like Nashville insiders than they do outlaws, stirring up controversy with “Girl Crush,” working with Pharrell and urging all people to overcome their differences: “There’s probably not a house in America that’s not divided right now”

Bishop Takes Rock

With a big voice and some self-doubt, Bishop Briggs enters festival season: “A huge part of me is in disbelief”

'We Carved Our Own Path'

Alt-rock standouts Incubus reflect on prescient sound, 20-year legacy and coming out of it ‘alive’ 

Andrew Dreskin

One year in, the ticketing pioneer on why Pandora’s $450 million investment was a “fair price,” and the future of the secondary market.

The Three Amigos

A rowdy trio raised together in North Atlanta, Migos cut a singularly now path to pop stardom: STEP 1 Launch a dance craze. STEP 2 Score a No. 1 with the help of a meme. STEP 3 Spend Grammy night partying with superfans Chance the Rapper and Chris Brown — as Billboard tags along. “I try not to be cocky,” says Takeoff, “but hey, we the shit, man”

California's Hero Of Cannabis Legalization

Lieutenant governor Gavin Newsom has rock star friends, his own clubs and a progressive agenda that got his state’s landmark Proposition 64 legislation passed — and the music industry rallying behind him

The Green Album

As vinyl sales hit a nearly 30-year high, Slightly Stoopid’s managers create a novelty that music-loving potheads could only dream of: an LP made entirely of hash

Simon Cowell, the Svengali's Second Act

From 1D to Fifth Harmony, the TV and music mogul owns pop culture. Now 56, he’s going in front of the camera again as he heads to America’s Got Talent, talks Harry Styles solo, plays with his 2-year-old son and reveals a certain sentimentality about American Idol: ‘I like to torture myself’

Twenty One Pilots on Their Musical Bromance and Fleeting Fame

Twenty One Pilots have blown up at top 40 radio, sold out massive arenas and even drawn the ire of millennial-bashing columnists with an unapologetic mashup of suburban angst, rap and reggae. But to Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, all that matters is their bond - with each other and their (millennial) fans. “It probably seems like two good-looking guys making pop music. But really it’s just the opposite.”

Gone Girl

Camila Cabello Kicked Off Her Solo Career and Her Band Sisters in Fifth Harmony Unexpectedly Denounced Her for It. Now She’s Got a Top Five Single, a Much-anticipated Album Coming and Zero Second Thoughts: “you Have to Honor That Inner Voice”

The Rise And Fall And Rise Of Nicky Jam

Born in the USA, catapulted to teen fame in Puerto Rico and practically washed up by his 20s, Nicky Jam went to Medellín, Colombia — a city haunted by its drug kingpin past — to find sobriety, love and greater-than-ever success. Billboard spends 48 hours with the reggaetón superstar in his adopted home as he prepares for his wedding — and, oh yeah, scores a No. 1 Latin album

pandora's risky business

with 78 million users, streaming’s original music service remains an online radio giant — but increasingly threatened by subscription blue chips like spotify and apple music. now, amid layoffs and acquisition rumors, co-founder/ceo tim westergren is about to launch an ambitious bid for subscribers of its own: “the other products out there are unsatisfying”

smoking in the backroom with 2 chainz

perusing the plants and product at the local dispensary with the stoner rapper royalty and “executive boss"

Jeffrey Harleston

Universal Music’s top lawyer on negotiating with streaming services, exclusives and the paltry number of black execs in the music business.

He Believed In The Healing Power Of Music Honoring the late, legendary Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt

TOWNES VAN ZANDT RANKS ALONGSIDE Kris Kristofferson and Bob Dylan,” says Grammy-winning country artist Rodney Crowell of the late singer-songwriter. “He inspired so many songwriters to shoot for something that’s timeless.”

Dreaming Up Desert Trip

Goldenvoice’s Paul Tollett on how the rock mega-concert became a two-weekend reality.

The Young Ones

With all the eligible music finally on sale (or streaming) and ballots about to hit the mail, America’s other campaign season starts now for the 59th annual Grammy Awards (Feb. 12, CBS, in Los Angeles), as women dominate (Adele, Beyoncé), hip-hop royalty likely reigns (Kanye, Drake) and the potential best new artist nominees — CHANCE THE RAPPER, MAREN MORRIS and ALESSIACARA — have never looked so revolutionary.

How Griange And EK [Finally] Got It Done

The New Licesing Deal Between UMG And Spotify Gained Both Parties Valuable Wins. Where Do They Go From Here?

Kevin Liles

The veteran label executive and manager on D’Angelo, data and C-suite shakeups

Whitney, Unauthorized

Nick Broomfield’s doc captures a voice “blessed by God” — against her estate’s wishes

40 Years Ago Rumours Became A Landmark No.1 Album

The second Fleetwood Mac LP to feature Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks helped define the ’70s California soft-rock sound

'The Biggest Latin Artist Of The Last 40 Years'

As a singer, songwriter and live performer, Juan Gabriel was one of the genre’s greats — and all-time earners.

Skylar Grey is Still Evolving

More than a decade into her career, pop singer-songwriter Skylar Grey, 30, has netted a lengthy résumé on the strength of her songwriting (Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie,” Zedd and Foxes’ “Clarity”) and features for others (Diddy and Dirty Money’s “Coming Home,” Dr. Dre and Eminem’s “I Need a Doctor”).