Taylor Swift donated $1 million each to Feeding America and the American Heart Association this holiday season, supporting food banks nationwide and heart-health research in honor of her father’s recovery from heart surgery.

Billboard.com

Billboard.com

Afrobeats star Asake said he was devastated by the death of 20-year-old fan Karen Lojore, who was killed in a crowd crush outside his Dec. 20 show at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, and called for accountability over safety failures.

Billboard.com

Bad Bunny and J Balvin ended their long-rumored feud by reuniting onstage at the final Mexico City stop of Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour on Dec. 21, marking their first joint performance since 2021.

NME.com

France’s culture ministry has added electronic music to the country’s Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, formally recognizing the genre’s cultural impact and importance to French artistic identity.

Billboard.com

Sean Ono Lennon said he is taking on a greater role in preserving the legacy of The Beatles and his parents, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, as his mother steps back from public life and younger audiences reshape listening habits.

NME.com

Queen guitarist Brian May debuted a previously unreleased Queen track, “Not For Sale (Polar Bear),” recorded during the 1974 Queen II sessions and set for inclusion in the album’s 2026 re-release.

Billboard.com

Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova welcomed their fourth child on Dec. 17, 2025, sharing the news days later in a joint Instagram post captioned “My Sunshine.”

Music-News.com

Billboard has released its list of the Top K-Pop Songs of 2025, ranking NMIXX’s “Blue Valentine” at number one.

Billboard.com

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• British blues rocker Chris Rea, known for “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and “Driving Home for Christmas,” died at 74. He released over 20 albums, earned a 1979 Grammy nod, and also competed in the 1993 British Touring Car Championship.

• Snoop Dogg will debut as an NBA analyst January 5, calling the second half of Clippers vs. Warriors alongside Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon. He’s been prepping with film study and team shootarounds.

• Snoop Dogg will also headline the NFL Christmas Day halftime show with HUNTR/X and Lainey Wilson. The Netflix special includes a holiday remix of “Drop It Like It’s Hot.”

• Spotify disabled accounts tied to scraping metadata and artwork for 86 million songs. The leak was linked to a so-called preservation group; Spotify says new safeguards are in place.

• Barry Manilow will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous lung spot. Doctors say it hasn’t spread. January shows are postponed, with a return planned for February.

• Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent announced a $200 limited CD single, “Ride The Serpent,” launching his long-delayed album Judgment Day. He cited piracy concerns for the pricing.

• Lady Gaga will stream Harlequin Live: One Night Only on Christmas Eve, filmed at LA’s Belasco Theatre in September 2024.

• Yngwie Malmsteen slammed former vocalists for using his name and material, stressing they were paid contributors, not creative partners.

• Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” hits a record 21st week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking her 100th career week atop the chart.

• Metallica’s James Hetfield shared a gravel-voiced dramatic reading of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” on SiriusXM and Instagram.

Top Albums (Billboard 200)

5. Ultimate Christmas – Bing Crosby

4. Christmas – Michael Bublé

3. KPop Demon Hunters – Soundtrack

2. I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen

1. The Life Of A Showgirl – Taylor Swift

Stay current every weekday at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. Two days until Christmas—are you still in Whamhalla? Feedback: [email protected].

Produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer: Tom Merritt. Theme music by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players.

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• No Doubt reunion: After nine years apart, No Doubt reunited at Coachella 2024 and FireAid and are now prepping an 18-show Las Vegas Sphere residency. Bassist Tony Kanal calls it daunting but thrilling.

• Billboard 200: Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl logs a 10th week at No. 1, making her the first woman with four albums hitting that mark. 21 Savage debuts at No. 3 with WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS? Six holiday albums fill the top 10, led by Michael Bublé.

• Spotify leak: A pirate activist group scraped Spotify metadata and audio files, releasing the metadata and planning P2P distribution. Spotify is investigating a potential massive open music archive leak.

• Kata Hay arrest: The Voice alum Kata Hay was arrested in Oklahoma on a vehicular homicide warrant tied to a Dec. 10 incident in Tennessee, plus leaving the scene and an open container charge.

• Chicago record shop threat: Bridgeport Records received a death threat over selling diverse house and dance music. Owners say they remain committed and the threat doesn’t reflect the community.

• Flaming Lips update: Drummer Matthew Duckworth Kirksey addressed Steven Drozd’s exit, praising Wayne Coyne’s leadership and announcing new music the band says is among their best in years.

• Kitt Wakeley: Grammy-nominated Seven Seasons turns shared experiences of grief into a classical work built from interviews with 41 people navigating loss.

• RIP Mick Abrahams: Original Jethro Tull guitarist and Blodwyn Pig founder Mick Abrahams has died at 82. He played on Tull’s 1968 debut before departing over musical differences.

• Healing with vinyl: An NPR feature spotlights ATX-VINyL, a palliative care program bringing bedside vinyl listening to patients to improve comfort and quality of life.

Hot 100 Singles:

5. Ariana Grande – “Santa Tell Me”

4. Bobby Helms – “Jingle Bell Rock”

3. Wham! – “Last Christmas”

2. Brenda Lee – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

1. Mariah Carey – “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Subscribe for weekday updates at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. Surviving Whamaggedon? Email [email protected].

Produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer Tom Merritt. Theme by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players. Thanks for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Swift has moved the final two episodes of her Disney+ docuseries The End of an Era to December 23, 2025, framing the early release as a holiday gift that wraps the Eras Tour series just before Christmas.

Variety

Diplo and Calvin Harris will co-headline a Super Bowl LX weekend concert at San Francisco’s Pier 80 on February 6, 2026, launching a slate of Bay Area pre-game events with tickets going on sale December 26.

Billboard

Jelly Roll has received a full pardon from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee for past robbery and drug offenses, with state officials citing his personal transformation and advocacy for recovery and second chances.

Variety

Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced in absentia to nine months in prison by a Romanian court for cannabis possession stemming from a 2024 onstage incident, though it remains unclear how or if the sentence will be enforced.

Rolling Stone

The NBA announced that Ludacris, Shaboozey, and K-pop group CORTIS will headline the NBA Crossover concert series during All-Star Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles from February 12–14.

Rolling Stone

A lawsuit involving former business partners of Priscilla Presley includes an unproven claim that Riley Keough is the biological mother of John Travolta’s teenage son, an allegation Presley’s legal team has denounced as shameful and unrelated to the case.

Billboard

Former President Barack Obama has released his annual list of favorite songs of 2025, featuring artists including Drake, Lady Gaga, Olivia Dean, and BLACKPINK.

Billboard

Muévelo – Kali Uchis

Apple Music

Hard Body – Polo G

Apple Music

War – ILLENIUM feat. Lø Spirit

Apple Music

Lonely Girl – Skye Newman

Apple Music

Duet – Zico & Lilas (YOASOBI)

Apple Music

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YouTube will stop submitting its U.S. streaming data to Billboard charts in early January after a dispute over formulas that prioritize paid streams over ad-supported viewing, arguing the methodology no longer reflects how fans consume music.

variety.com

Olivia Dean said a message from a struggling single mother who could not afford resale tickets inspired her to publicly criticize Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and AEG, leading Ticketmaster to cap resale prices at face value for her shows.

billboard.com

OpenAI confirmed ChatGPT will integrate third-party apps directly into the service, with Apple Music announced as an upcoming partner allowing users to create playlists and interact with the platform inside the chatbot.

digitalmusicnews.com

Production music owners and publishers have filed a $123 million lawsuit against ASCAP, alleging it underpaid and misreported radio royalties for background music used on news, sports, and talk radio programming.

digitalmusicnews.com

Jane’s Addiction has officially announced its breakup following a 2024 onstage altercation between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro that led to tour cancellations and internal lawsuits.

variety.com

George Clinton revealed plans for a 2026 Parliament-Funkadelic tour featuring a newly built “Mothership” stage prop, replacing the original now housed in the Smithsonian.

billboard.com

HYBE has launched a joint venture called NFO LLC and entered a global management partnership with Grammy-winning South African pop star Tyla to oversee her worldwide career.

koreaherald.com

BE:FIRST’s “Lighting Up the Town” has reached number one on Japan’s Billboard Hot 100, followed by Kenshi Yonezu, ≠ME, HANA, and Naniwa Danshi.

music.apple.com

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• Rolling Stones canceled their planned 2026 UK/EU stadium tour after Keith Richards couldn’t commit. A new album was nearly finished. Touring schedules have steadily shrunk since the early 2000s.

• Christina Aguilera premieres Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris Dec. 22 on CBS/Paramount+. Filmed in Paris with guests Sheila E. and Yseult, marking 25 years of My Kind of Christmas. A new live holiday album is also out.

• Rob Reiner’s final film, Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, is on hold following his death. Bleecker Street had acquired U.S. distribution.

• A judge dismissed Ashley Walters’ lawsuit against Marilyn Manson due to statute of limitations. An appeal is planned. Manson’s lawyer welcomed the ruling.

• Marilyn Manson announced a spring U.S. tour supporting One Assassination Under God – Chapter One, starting April 23 in Highland, CA, with Sick New World and Sonic Temple dates.

• Snoop Dogg headlines the NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show Dec. 25 (Lions vs. Vikings). Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party streams live on Netflix.

• Donna Summer was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Queen of Disco sold 150M+ records with four No. 1 singles.

• Gama Bomb’s documentary, Survival Of The Fastest, is now streaming worldwide via the Irish Film Institute.

• Cold Slither, the G.I. Joe–themed metal band, released the holiday song “Cobra Claws Are Coming to Town,” inspired by a 1985 episode, with a stop-motion video.

Billboard 2025 Global 200 – Top 5 Songs

5. Benson Boone – Beautiful Things

4. Alex Warren – Ordinary

3. Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather

2. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile

1. Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT.

Subscribe: DailyMusicHeadlines.com

Email: [email protected]

Year-in-review livestream: Dec. 19, 5pm ET / 2pm PT at youtube.com/@dailymusicheadlines

Produced by Hammond Chamberlain & Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott & Eileen Rivera. Executive producer Tom Merritt. Theme by Lex Dallas & the State Street Players.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mariah Carey will perform at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 6 at San Siro Stadium in Milan, marking a high-profile kickoff to the Milan–Cortina Games.

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” hits No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 for the first time with 95.3M streams, becoming only the second holiday song to top the chart since its 2020 launch.

Bret Michaels’ memoir, Unbroken – Then, Now and Forever, will be adapted into a biopic slated for 2026, chronicling his life, career, and perseverance.

Native Instruments revives cult-favorite Absynth with version 6 after 16 years, adding MPE support, AI-assisted preset browsing, surround sound, and new presets from Brian Eno and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.

Texas prog-metal pioneers WATCHTOWER are producing a feature-length documentary, Energetic Resistance, exploring the band’s legacy, influence, and reunion, with new music also under consideration.

Big Big Train singer Alberto Bravin released a solo cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” recorded entirely by Bravin as a fan thank-you.

Morgan Wallen becomes the highest RIAA-certified country artist ever with 265.5M units, five diamond singles, and a quadruple-platinum album, ahead of his 2026 tour supporting his foundation.

New research finds music therapy significantly reduces stress and anxiety in hospitalized children, improving emotional well-being and supporting broader pediatric care integration.

Dalstrong launches an ultra-limited KISS knife collection, including Gene Simmons’ Hellfire Demon Axe, celebrating 50 years of the band with just 650 units produced.

Top Albums of the Week (Billboard 200):

No. 1 Taylor Swift – The Life Of A Showgirl

No. 2 Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem

No. 3 KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack

No. 4 Stray Kids – DO IT (EP)

No. 5 Wicked: For Good Soundtrack.

Want to stay up to date on what’s happening in music every weekday? Subscribe at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. And tell us how you’re doing in Whamaggedon. Email us at [email protected]. And join the whole DMH crew for a livestream year in review tomorrow December 17, at 6pm eastern, 3pm Pacific.The show is produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. It's written and hosted by (me) Brian Ibbott and (me) Eileen Rivera. Tom Merritt is our executive producer. Theme music by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players. Thanks for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl logs a ninth week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Holiday albums dominate half the Top 10, led by Michael Bublé’s Christmas at No. 4.

• Garbage’s Shirley Manson addressed the antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah event in Bondi Beach during a Sydney Opera House show, offering condolences and calling for unity after 15 were killed and 29 injured.

• Lizzo’s former backup dancers are appealing a ruling that allows their sexual harassment lawsuit to proceed to trial. Arguments are expected in 2026.

• Reports suggest The Rolling Stones’ expected 2026 European tour has been canceled, raising questions about future plans.

• Fergie reunited with will.i.am, Taboo, and Apl.de.Ap to celebrate milestone birthdays, marking the Black Eyed Peas’ first public reunion since 2018.

• Lady Gaga paused her Mayhem Ball show in Sydney after dancer Michael Dameski slipped off the stage. He confirmed he was uninjured and dancing again shortly after.

• The Weeknd and Lyric Capital Group formed a joint venture covering his music catalog through 2025, allowing the artist to retain creative control and ownership.

• An updated audiobook edition of Slayer 66 2/3 by D.X. Ferris is now exclusive to Bandcamp, featuring new chapters on SLAYER’s 2025 reunion and expanded research.

• ENHYPEN announce their seventh mini-album, THE SIN : VANISH, arriving January 16 as part of their expanding “dark fantasy” storyline.

• Holiday music dominates the Hot 100. The only non-Christmas song in the Top 5 is “Golden” by HUNTR/X at No. 5. With All I Want For Christmas at number 1.

Want music news every weekday? Subscribe at DailyMusicHeadlines.com. Tell us how you’re doing in Whamageddon at [email protected].

Produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. Written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and Eileen Rivera. Executive producer: Tom Merritt. Theme music by Lex Dallas and the State Street Players. Thanks for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay-Z’s Marcy Pen Capital Partners has partnered with South Korea’s Hanwha Asset Management to launch a $500 million joint fund aimed at scaling Korean beauty, food, entertainment, and other K-culture brands globally.

koreaherald.com

Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo has returned their trophy to the EBU in protest of Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, saying it contradicts the contest’s stated values amid the ongoing Gaza war.

nme.com

Spotify has begun beta testing a new AI feature called Prompted Playlist in New Zealand, allowing users to generate and refine playlists using natural-language prompts.

musicbusinessworldwide.com

Snoop Dogg has been named the first-ever honorary coach for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina.

music-news.com

Lenny Kravitz is making his video game debut in 007: First Light, voicing and portraying Pirate King Bawma in the upcoming James Bond title set for release on March 27, 2026.

music-news.com

Timothée Chalamet has declined to confirm or deny online rumours linking him to British rapper EsDeeKid, playfully fueling speculation during a UK radio interview.

nme.com

The Sundance Film Festival 2026 lineup includes music-related premieres Antiheroine, a Courtney Love documentary, and The Moment, a Charli XCX-led hyper-pop mockumentary satirizing pop stardom.

stereogum.com

Rolling Stone – Top 5 Songs of the Year

#5 Kehlani – “Folded”

music.apple.com

#4 Bad Bunny – “Baile Inolvidable”

music.apple.com

#3 KPop Demon Hunters/Huntr/x – “Golden”

music.apple.com

#2 MJ Lenderman and This Is Lorelei – “Dancing in the Club”

music.apple.com

#1 Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”

music.apple.com

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Beyoncé will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, as the event aligns with the Costume Institute’s “Costume Art” exhibition exploring fashion’s relationship to the human body.

 bill­board.com

Diana Ross will headline Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2026 with a live Times Square performance, part of a record-long broadcast featuring 39 artists across multiple cities.

 bill­board.com

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has been named the RIAA’s top certified album of 2025, following Monday’s noted chart gains and capping a year of recurring returns to No. 1.

 bill­board.com

Micky Dolenz has announced a 2026 “60 Years of The Monkees” tour, performing hits chronologically and honoring his late bandmates through stories and archival memories.

 bill­board.com

Gene Simmons told the Senate that U.S. performers are unfairly excluded from radio royalties, urging lawmakers to pass the American Music Fairness Act to ensure compensation for airplay.

 bill­board.com

Iceland has withdrawn from Eurovision 2026, with public broadcaster RÚV protesting Israel’s inclusion and joining Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia in exiting the contest.

 digital­music­news.com

Billie Eilish has released the trailer for Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), a James Cameron–directed concert film premiering in theaters on March 20, 2026.

 nme.com

5. “Beautiful Things” — Benson Boone

 music.apple.com

4. “Ordinary” — Alex Warren

 music.apple.com

3. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” — Billie Eilish

 music.apple.com

2. “Die With A Smile” — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

 music.apple.com

1. “APT.” — Rosé & Bruno Mars

 music.apple.com

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