Music

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's HR head Kristin Cabot are in hot water after they were caught cuddling at Coldplay's concert earlier this week ... because the company's launching an investigation into their relationship.

The company announced the investigation Friday morning ... telling its followers, and more importantly its investors, Astronomer is looking into the matter and "will have additional details to share very shortly."

Astronomer also used the opportunity to clear the air ... announcing a woman identified as a VP in the human resources department was not at the concert, despite reports ... and Byron has not actually released a statement yet.

The couple supposedly caught cheating at a recent Coldplay concert are inspiring a lot of people in their alone time ... 'cause "cheating" porn interest is blowing up on Pornhub.

We've got some internal data from the good people at one of the country's premier porn sites ... and, they tell us they're seeing a massive spike in searches for the keywords "cheating" and "affair."

Check out this graph ... search traffic grew as erect as the people looking up the videos -- up more than 19% from the previous day. Worth noting ... interest sat at around just 2% for much of the weeks leading up to the Coldplay catastrophe -- but, it's really exploded all over the site in recent days.

Alex Cora had himself an All-Star break he'll remember for the foreseeable future ... 'cause the Red Sox manager was in attendance for the Coldplay concert on Wednesday in Boston -- the same show where an alleged affair was put on display for the world to see!

Cora met with media members on Friday just ahead of his team's series opener against the Chicago Cubs, and he was asked how he enjoyed his past few off days.

He cracked a wry smile and said, "It was good," before he revealed, "I was actually in the Wednesday [Coldplay] concert."

Several 2025 XXL Freshman selects dropped new music on Friday amid Joe Budden's looming warning this week -- new artists' shelf lives are in the pits!!!

Budden made a grand observation that rappers aren't lasting like they used to ... despite them being able to make more money within the small window of buzz than in years past.

The unapologetic hip hop podcaster has been playing prophet for some time now, predicting the downfall of the culture due to trash tracks ... opening the door for the new kids on the block to prove him wrong.

Coldplay’s Chris Martin might’ve sung about 'Fixing' love, but it looks like he's given up on trusting it -- 'cause he cheekily grilled another couple on whether they were the real deal ... right after busting an alleged affair at a Boston concert this week.

Catch the hilarious clip -- Chris went full detective mode, interrogating the next couple about their relationship status after the kiss-cam locked onto them ... and the moment got even funnier when it looked like the pair either didn’t hear him or just had no clue what was happening!

The couple was seen giggling and awkwardly nodding, with Chris even throwing in some Spanish just in case. But it turns out, they are a real couple -- just looked like they were a bit flustered by all the eyes on them!

Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" tour stop in ATL turned into pure chaos this week -- all because of a little girl who reportedly bugged out (literally!) over an insect ... sparking a stampede that sent multiple fans to the hospital!

Yup, a 10-year-old’s hysterical screams after spotting a tiny insect set off a wild chain reaction -- panicked fans bolted out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, cramming the escalator at Vine City MARTA station … which then malfunctioned!

Terrifying videos show the chaos -- fans sprinting on an escalator that suddenly sped up before slamming to a halt ... sending people tumbling all over each other after the concert was over.

Joey Bada$$ feels he's both at the top of the rap game and has more to prove, so anyone considering themselves competition --  Top Dawg Entertainment artists, current or former -- will be regarded as food!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked up with Mr. Beast Coast in Burbank on Thursday ... Joey's arming himself with a bold new album title, "Lonely At The Top," which he explains to us outlines being at the "top" of all his success.

Joey tells us he keeps God close to combat loneliness but has been occupying his studio time much of the year, looped in a battle rap between West Coast rappers, mainly Ray Vaughn of TDE ... Joey's ultimate goal is to face off against Kendrick Lamar!!!

New twist in the viral Coldplay concert scandal -- the company behind the CEO busted in an alleged affair says a supposed statement from Andy Byron that's gone viral is totally fake.

Byron’s company, Astronomer tells TMZ the statement floating around on social media -- purportedly written by Andy himself to address the alleged affair -- is “not a real statement.”

The faux statement was posted late Thursday after the now-infamous video went viral, showing CEO Andy hugging Astronomer's HR chief Kristin Cabot during Wednesday night's Coldplay concert in Boston.

The alleged couple ended up on the big screen, and both of them immediately tried to hide when they realized they were on full display.

It sure seems like everyone is talking about the viral Coldplay concert moment when the kiss-cam seemingly exposed a CEO's alleged affair with his staffer -- and now fans can rock hilarious merch ... thanks to Etsy.

The popular online marketplace was flooded with items shortly after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was allegedly caught canoodling on camera with his human resources chief, Kristin Cabot, at Coldplay's Boston concert Wednesday night.

Spreading through social media like the "Speed of Sound" ... their horrified reaction made national headlines -- so of course, it was just a matter of time before someone cashed in on the moment.

LiAngelo Ball's debut album is here ... and the baller-turned-rapper used the project to clap back at his ex for calling him a "deadbeat daddy."

Gelo's full-length LP, "League of My Own," features 13 tracks, including his hit "Tweaker" ... and in one of the songs, he talks about an unnamed person calling him a bad father.

The lyrics go ... "They kick me when I'm down, so can you pick me up? Say I'm a deadbeat daddy who don't give no f***s. Say I'm an ugly soul who just up and run."

The Coldplay fan behind the viral kiss cam moment that seemingly exposed a CEO's alleged affair with his staffer is defending posting the video with a blunt lesson -- "Play stupid games ... win stupid prizes!"

New Jersey resident Grace Springer is speaking out about her wild video -- which has amassed more than 30 million views -- telling The Sun she never expected her footage to become so popular but hopes it can be a learning moment for those involved.

She explains ... "A part of me feels bad for turning these people’s lives upside down, but, play stupid games… win stupid prizes."

Troy Ave. ain't out of the woods yet after his "fake" shooting video surfaced online ... 'cause the police are now investigating to see if the incident was actually real.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office tells TMZ they received a copy of the video Wednesday, which depicts Troy and his buddy, Geoff Cole, getting out of a vehicle outside Geoff's home as a gunman sneaks up on them. Troy quickly reacts, pulling out his own pistol and firing several shots at the supposed assailant before the clip cuts off.

Geoff uploaded the video to his Instagram page Tuesday -- and 45,000 people liked it, with many believing that Troy was a real-life hero standing up to an alleged attempted robber.

50 Cent will lend his commanding vocals to narrate Skilla Baby's next album, "The Price Of Fame," TMZ Hip Hop can confirm ... similar to "Get Rich or Die Tryin," the project is aiming to be a magnum opus classic!!!

The Detroit rapper has been bouncing back after being shot in May, and we're hearing he was centered inside two star-studded, top-secret listening sessions on Wednesday in Los Angeles for his upcoming project.

Our sources inform us the first listening was held at the Interscope offices in Santa Monica with 50 and Skilla's Geffen Records label boss, Aaron “Dash” Sherrod, detailing the album.

The brutal murders of Robin Kaye, a music supervisor on "American Idol," and her husband, musician Thomas DeLuca, at their home in Encino earlier this week sent shockwaves through Los Angeles.

We've learned the suspect, Raymond Boodarian, has a troubled background ... the 22-year-old man was arrested this week on suspicion of committing the grisly murders.

We're going to take a look at the disturbing allegations surrounding his past, as well as the events that led up to his arrest.

Boodarian allegedly had a history of substance abuse issues leading up to the murders, frequently associating with other users, according to the New York Post.

The murder suspect reportedly brought other users around his residence in Reseda, a neighborhood in L.A. -- one neighbor claimed the visits left other residents "frightened."

The same individual reportedly said Boodarian's alleged drug usage resulted in "a lot of problems," which other neighbors complained about.

Another of Boodarian's neighbors spoke to Fox News and claimed he was "on and off medication" ... another stated he would "be taken away for a couple of months" before being returned to his residence.

Boodarian's behavior reportedly landed him in trouble with authorities, and he racked up a list of alleged criminal offenses over the years, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Court records show he'd been charged with brandishing a knife, threatening to commit a crime with the intent to terrorize, and battery.

But the charges were eventually dismissed after he went through hearings related to establishing a conservatorship, as well as his mental competency.

Boodarian subsequently underwent a mental health evaluation and was ultimately placed under a conservatorship, according to NBC 4.

The bodies of Kaye and DeLuca were discovered Monday at their tightly secured home after LAPD officers arrived to perform a welfare check.

Police went to the couple's residence the previous Thursday in response to a call about a potential break-in ... and although cops showed up to check out the scene, they left after searching the property.

Our law enforcement sources told us the couple's bodies were found in separate rooms, and they both had been shot in the head.

Boodarian is believed to have entered the house through an unlocked door on Thursday afternoon last week ... Kaye and DeLuca returned to their house shortly afterward and discovered him inside, which allegedly led to a confrontation that resulted in both of them being shot.

Boodarian was arrested at his residence after police found fingerprints at the scene that allegedly match his -- his prints had been entered in the LAPD's database after he was arrested on battery charges in 2024.

Jermaine Dupri thinks it's time rap music gets its groove back ... strippers don't dance no more -- all they do is finger-gun gestures!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video from Wednesday night of the So So Def founder in Hollywood at Grandmaster Recorders, where he hosted an exclusive mixer for DJs and tastemakers to preview his new album inspired by the Magic City documentary.

JD ranted against strippers doing their best Ja Morant impression with the gun dances when they should be dropping it low on the pole!!! He got platinum-selling producer DJ Toomp to agree with him in the crowd.

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist officially let the pasta out of the bag in Hollywood last night -- their "Alfredo 2" album is real, cooked up and almost ready to serve!!!

The Grammy-nominated duo was hosting the world premiere of "Alfredo: The Movie," their short film shot in Tokyo at Brain Dead Studios ... moderated by our own TMZ Hip Hop's Trent Clark, who got them to fire off the release date of July 25!!!

The film follows the two along in Japan ... with scenes Freddie joked that teeter on elderly abuse -- the dangers when you pull your own stunts!!!

Freddie says just giving fans music without an accompanying art piece would be a disservice at this point in his career ... it's directed by Freddie's longtime music director Nick Walker and spearheaded by his manager Ben Lambert ... nothing broken needs fixing!!!

Freddie told the audience he's in a good space mentally and didn't need tons of guest features on the project to amplify his raps ... something Alchemist wholeheartedly agreed with.

"Alfredo 2" album opener "1995" -- a 10-year jump from "Alfredo 1's" kickoff track "1985" also dropped today, to accompany the film's rollout.