Music industry news covering album releases, artists, concerts, music charts, record labels, and music business developments.
Celine Dion expressed heartbreak over the death of Peabo Bryson, her duet partner on the Beauty and the Beast theme song. Bryson, a two-time Grammy-winning R&B singer, died at age 75 on Tuesday evening after suffering a stroke. His family announced his death, noting his legacy will live on.
Swift announced a new song 'I Knew It, I Knew You' for Toy Story 5, co-written with Jack Antonoff. The track marks a return to her country roots and is inspired by character Jessie. The film releases later this month.
Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldinho revealed 'CAMISA 10' as the first release from his record label Tu Música, led by Sean Paul. The album drops June 9, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, featuring 44 artists from 18 countries across multiple genres.
This commentary argues that younger music listeners are increasingly turning to older music, particularly from the 1990s, driven by nostalgia and parental influence. It suggests this trend reflects broader streaming habits favoring catalog over new releases, and predicts future resurgences of 2000s and 2010s music.
AEG International CEO Alex Hill said at SXSW London that the UK live industry wants to move quicker than the government on banning ticket resale above face value. He cited challenges from bots and touts. The Labour government promised a ban in 2024 but legislation has been delayed.
This commentary argues that the backlash against artists who booked or backed out of the 'Freedom 250' concert reveals the fickleness of polarized fan bases. It uses guitarist Pete Evick's impassioned defense of Bret Michaels to illustrate how fans on both sides quickly turn on artists, ignoring context and nuance.
This commentary argues that Taylor Swift's financial success, with a net worth of $2 billion, is unprecedented for a musician, as it stems solely from songwriting and performances rather than brand deals. It contends that her Eras Tour, which grossed over $2 billion, solidifies her status as the richest female musician in history.
This Billboard article chronicles Drake's achievement of peaking at every position in the Billboard Hot 100's top 40, highlighting his record of 95 distinct peak positions. It argues that this feat underscores his unparalleled chart dominance, comparing his breadth of peaks to other artists and noting his near-complete sweep of the chart's ranks.
This commentary reflects on the early days of Beatlemania through the story of Trudy Medcalf, who started a Beatles fan club in Canada. It argues that fandom existed before modern attention economy infrastructure, and that Canada played an early role in the Beatles' rise. The piece uses Medcalf's personal recollections to explore the organic nature of fan culture.
This commentary argues that Lorde's 2013 single 'Royals' was a transformative cultural moment, influencing the rise of minimalist alt-pop and reflecting a generational shift away from excess. It contends the song's class-conscious critique and lo-fi production paved the way for artists like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.