LG has expanded its partnership with will.i.am (pictured). Photo Credit: Moses
LG and will.i.am are taking their partnership to the next level in 2026, which is officially set to deliver a new line of xboom speakers.
The Seoul-headquartered business revealed its bolstered will.i.am tie-up today, about one year after first partnering with the FYI founder and CEO. And as LG noted then, the innovation-minded artist and entrepreneur is collaborating on development, design, and marketing alike.
Consequently, “AI-driven intelligence” – including will.i.am’s FYI.RAiDiO; more on this in a moment – is factoring prominently into the union and the involved products. At present, said products include multiple Bluetooth speakers (complete with AI lighting that adapts to sound) and wireless earbuds.
Now, LG and the multi-time Grammy winner have teed up four new speakers – the Stage 501, Blast, Mini, and Rock – to launch in 2026. More information about the forthcoming models will arrive as part of next month’s (January 6th-9th) CES 2026.
Ahead of the showcase, however, will.i.am and LG have disclosed a few details. In keeping with its name, the xboom Stage 501 will come equipped with an “AI Karaoke Master” feature “powered by deep learning from over 10,000 songs.”
As described by LG, the Karaoke Master won’t require a subscription and will enable users to, among other things, “remove or adjust vocals from virtually any song.”
Also aptly named, the Blast is designed to meet the demands of parties and more with its “military-standard durability” and 35-hour battery life. The Mini, for its part, is compact and suited for everyday use, whereas the Rock can withstand “rugged adventures…in challenging outdoor environments,” per LG.
Back to FYI.RAiDiO, the “deeply integrated” radio platform is said to boast 10 AI personas and DJs, two-way conversations, personalized listening experiences, and more.
“We are turning sound into a living, learning experience,” added will.i.am. “With FYI.RAiDiO and AI personas, xboom by will.i.am speakers offer a glimpse into a new way of enjoying audio experience through an inspiring cultural connection with AI. These enhancements will bring people closer and connect through a shared passion of music and creativity.”
And in remarks of his own, Lee Jeong-seok, head of the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company’s audio business, emphasized portable audio’s role as “a key growth driver.”
“The collaboration with will.i.am continues to advance our vision for intelligent, expressive sound,” the exec communicated. “As we move into 2026, portable audio will remain a key growth driver for LG, combining refined performance, AI innovation and design that reflects what consumers value most.”
