BTS leads this week’s New Music Friday roundup with their long-awaited comeback album Arirang. Led by the dance-pop focus track “Swim,” the 14-track set features an all-star lineup of producers, including Diplo, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Mike WiLL Made-It and Ryan Tedder. The Bangtan Boys are following up the new release with a comeback concert set for Saturday (March 21) at Gwanghwamun Square. The show will livestream on Netflix, but unfortunately, RM’s performance will be “partially limited” due to an ankle injury sustained during rehearsals.
Mike WiLL also released an album of his own titled R3SET, marking his first solo studio album in nine years. The 15-track LP includes collaborations with J. Cole, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Monaleo, Karrahbooo, CeeLo Green and Swae Lee. Country superstar Luke Combs boasted this week’s other high-profile release, sharing The Way I Am, his sixth studio album. Featuring a tender duet with Alison Krauss, the new set marks Combs’ first since 2024’s Fathers & Sons.
This New Music Friday also gifted us projects from R&B singer-songwriter Ego Ella May (Good Intentions), country singer Morgan Evans (Steel Town), and Smile 2 star Naomi Scott (F.I.G).
On the singles side, Latto rocked the world with her new “Business & Pleasure” track, in which she revealed her pregnancy alongside the announcement of her forthcoming Big Mama album, set for a May 29 release. Billboard 200 chart-topper Yeat teamed up with Kylie Jenner (aka King Kylie) for “Let King Tonka Talk,” and Grammy nominee Coi Leray tapped YoungBoy Never Broke Again for her new “Better Than Yours” single.
Over in the pop world, One Direction alum Niall Horan shared “Dinner Party,” the lead single and title track of his forthcoming fourth studio album. British singer-songwriter Paris Paloma shaded generative AI in her new “Miyazaki” track, while Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy struggled with love lost across “Honest.” Lizzo also dropped an anthemic, Tina Turner-nodding new single titled “Don’t Make Me Love U.”
Finally, Coco Jones leads this week’s new R&B releases with the Shae Jacobs-produced “Luvagirl.” British girl group FLO turned up the tempo with their steamy new “Leak It” single, while John Legend joined Ghanaian Afro-dancehall star Shatta Wale on the heart-eyed “Aint’ Nobody.”
Which new release this week is your favorite? Vote — or share your own pick — in Billboard‘s New Music Friday poll below.
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