Daily Music Headlines

Taylor Swift filed three USPTO trademark applications to protect her voice and likeness from AI misuse, including sound marks like “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and a specific image. The move mirrors similar efforts by Matthew McConaughey.

Megan Thee Stallion will exit Moulin Rouge! The Musical early on May 1, ahead of her planned May 17 departure. Her run as Zidler marked the first time a woman played the role; news follows her split from Klay Thompson.

Josh Groban will receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star May 6, ahead of his album “Cinematic.” Ceremony speakers include David Foster, Josh Gad, and Ben Schwartz.

Jay Bryant pleaded guilty as an accomplice in the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, admitting he let the gunmen into the studio. Convictions of the shooters remain in flux amid appeals.

A construction worker died in a stage accident while preparing for a Shakira concert in Brazil. Organizers expressed condolences and are supporting the worker’s family.

Steve Vai listed his Encino home for $11.8M. The 10,000-square-foot property includes a studio, pool house, and gym.

Spotify reported Q1 revenue up 8% to €4.5B. Ad-supported MAUs rose 14% to 483M; total MAUs hit 761M with 293M premium subscribers despite a 5% dip in ad revenue.

William Shatner is releasing a heavy metal album featuring Rob Halford, John Moyer, and Dave Lombardo.

Top 5 Albums:

5. Swag – Justin Bieber

4. Arirang – BTS

3. 7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns – Tomorrow X Together

2. I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen

1.Dandelion – Ella Langley

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Nedra Talley Ross, last surviving member of The Ronettes, died at 80. The group, known for “Be My Baby,” entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Ross later pursued solo work and was remembered for her warmth.

Sharon Osbourne settled a dispute with Black Sabbath’s first manager, Jim Simpson, over early demos. The recordings (“Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes”) now belong to the original band members, who will decide next steps.

David Lee Roth sold his publishing catalog for a major payout, saying it’s his first real financial security. He emphasized his songwriting role in Van Halen, including lyrics, melodies, and contributions to “Jump.”

Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide” won Billboard’s fan-voted poll with 60%. The 17-track album includes his biggest hit to date; tour begins June 11 in Orlando.

Ella Langley’s “Dandelion” holds No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a second week (106K units). TOMORROW X TOGETHER debuts at No. 3; Justin Bieber returns to the top five; KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack re-enters top 10 after Record Store Day.

Madonna previewed two songs from “Confessions II” during a surprise appearance at The Abbey in West Hollywood. The album drops July 3 via Warner Records.

Duluth’s Homegrown Music Festival opened with a Children’s Showcase at Lake Superior Zoo, highlighting young performers and community arts.

Singer Ink (Atia Boggs) debuted at Stagecoach, performing songs from “Big Buskin’” and preparing a full country album.

South Korean prosecutors rejected an arrest warrant for HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk over alleged IPO misconduct; Bang denies wrongdoing.

At Bogotá’s La Modelo prison, band Simbiontes—made up of inmates and guards—uses music to ease tensions and promote rehabilitation amid overcrowding.

Top 5 Singles:

5. Ordinary – Alex Warren

4. Be Her – Ella Langley

3. I Just Might – Bruno Mars

2. Man I Need – Olivia Dean

1.Choosin Texas – Ella Langley

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Taylor Swift has been named Spotify’s most-streamed artist of all time as the platform marks its 20th anniversary.

Music-News.com

Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk will release Mirage - Ballet for 16 Dancers on June 5, collecting his electronic score for a contemporary ballet created by Damien Jalet and Kōhei Nawa.

Billboard.com

Kylie Minogue is the subject of an upcoming three-part Netflix documentary exploring her life, career, personal archives, home footage, and interviews with friends, family, and collaborators.

Music-News.com

A former North Carolina police officer was arrested in Florida after authorities said he was planning a mass shooting at a major New Orleans music festival, possibly Jazz Fest.

USAToday.com

Tyla has announced her second album, APOP*, set for release July 24, continuing her popiano blend of pop, R&B, and amapiano.

NME.com

YouTube is expanding its likeness detection tool to help celebrities, artists, and entertainment figures identify unauthorized AI-generated videos using their likeness and request removal.

DigitalMusicNews.com

Spotify is testing optional AI Credits in its mobile Song Credits section, showing disclosed AI use when artists provide that information through labels or distributors.

MusicBusinessWorldwide.com

And it’s Friday, so here are some of the freshest songs dropped this week:

“Window” - Foo Fighters

Apple Music

“Reward the Scars” - Korn

Apple Music

“REDRED” - Cortis

Apple Music

“Shoulda Never” - Kehlani feat. Usher

Apple Music

“Celebration” - Le Sserafim

Apple Music

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Ticketmaster says it found scalpers holding thousands of Harry Styles tickets for his 30-date Madison Square Garden residency, and some of those seats will go back on sale through a fan request form opening April 30.

Billboard

Several D4vd collaborations, including tracks involving Laufey, Damiano David, and Kali Uchis, have been removed from streaming services as artists and teams move quickly to distance themselves following his arrest and criminal charges.

Billboard

KCON LA 2026 has added more performers, including EVAN, formerly Heeseung of ENHYPEN, in one of his earliest major appearances of his solo era.

Billboard

The 2026 CBGB Festival returns to New York on September 26 with a lineup including Morrissey, Patti Smith, Interpol, the Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Bikini Kill, Buzzcocks, and Violet Grohl.

Billboard

Shania Twain will host the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17 in Las Vegas, with the ceremony streaming live on Prime Video.

Music-News

Kanye West is facing mounting pressure to cancel a planned headline appearance at Italy’s Hellwat Festival, where backlash over his past antisemitic remarks continues to grow.

NME

Coachella has announced its 2027 festival dates for April 9-11 and April 16-18 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, with passes going on sale May 1.

NME

Kraftwerk has suffered a setback in its long-running “Metall auf Metall” sampling case after Europe’s top court ruled the disputed Sabrina Setlur sample may qualify as legal pastiche under EU law.

Variety

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Blackpink’s Jennie released a new track tied to an Apple Beats campaign for Beats Solo 4 (Onyx Black), featuring Jennie-inspired design elements. Launch set for April 24. Second Beats collab following 2025’s Ruby Red edition.

Katseye will perform at the 2026 American Music Awards (May 25), with nominations for New Artist, Best Music Video, and Breakthrough Pop Artist. Recently played Coachella as a five-piece.

Dave Mason died at 79. Retired from touring in 2025 due to health issues. Career spanned six decades, including “Feelin’ Alright” and work with Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney.

Anthropic argues its Claude chatbot training on song lyrics is fair use, calling it transformative with no proven market harm. Case reflects broader industry fight over AI and copyright.

The Michael biopic starring Jaafar Jackson earned mixed reviews—praised for performances, criticized as incomplete. Opens Friday.

Drake announced ninth album “Iceman,” due May 15, revealed via a Toronto promo stunt. Project teased since 2024.

Walrus Audio launched Highpoint analog compressor pedal with VU meter, hi-pass filter, and detailed control set. Priced at $349.

EU court sided with Moses Pelham in a sampling case against Kraftwerk, ruling parody/pastiche exceptions can apply if new works are distinct. Major implications for sampling law.

Devin Townsend will release 24-track orchestral album “The Moth” on May 29, featuring Noord Nederlands Orkest. Long-gestating concept project on transformation.

Kacey Musgraves, Demi Lovato, and Miley Cyrus shared UFO experiences, describing sightings and interest in extraterrestrial phenomena.

Billboard Hot Soundtrack Albums:

1. Kpop Demon Hunters
2. Moana (491 weeks)
3. Purple Rain (757 weeks)
4. Frozen: The Songs
5. Twisters: The Album

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Produced by Hammond Chamberlain

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Coachella headliners Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, and Karol G all saw major Billboard 200 gains post-performance. Bieber landed seven albums on the chart, including SWAG in the top 10; Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend and Short n’ Sweet rose; Karol G’s Tropicoqueta re-entered.

Madonna reported vintage costumes stolen after her Coachella appearance with Carpenter. Missing items include a jacket, corset, and dress; a reward is offered.

Shaboozey will release The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales July 31, a concept album about revenge and redemption. Lead single “Born to Die” arrives Friday.

Gary Van Miert announced LP Music Sounds Better When You’re Stoned (June 19), blending country, blues, and psychedelia; title track is out now.

Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas continues nightly, mixing music, dance, puppetry, and magic with ticket and dinner packages available.

Phish wrapped a nine-night Sphere residency, using real-time reactive visuals and immersive tech as part of their improvisational performances.

A previously unreleased 1991 track, “With This Tear,” from Prince is out now, marking the 10th anniversary of his death and previewing more archival releases.

Grimes says her new album Psy Opera is nearly complete and discussed a “machine consciousness” documentary and renewed creativity after a K-pop collaboration.

Windham Hill Records marks its 50th anniversary with a documentary (A Quiet Revolution), Berkeley concert, and crowd-funded compilation.

Billy Strings broke his leg skateboarding backstage, postponing tour dates; plans to resume in July.

Top 5 Albums:

5. The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean

4. Octane – Don Toliver

3. Arirang – BTS

2. I’m the Problem – Morgan Wallen

Dandelion – Ella Langley

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Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls revealed diagnoses of cervical dystonia and essential tremor, affecting her voice. She outlined treatment plans and said her voice will change, but she and Amy Ray will continue touring and performing.

Tina Knowles previewed an excerpt from her memoir Matriarch at a Kurt Geiger London Mother’s Day event. The book covers raising Beyoncé and Solange and her breast cancer journey; she also launched a five-piece handbag collection with the brand.

Ella Langley’s Dandelion debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 169K units, the biggest week for a woman in 2026 and for a female country artist in two years, driven largely by streaming.

Stewart Copeland and naturalist Martyn Stewart released Wild Concerto, blending orchestration with decades of animal recordings to promote conservation awareness.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “drop dead” leads the UK chart race, aiming for her fourth No. 1. Record Store Day and Coachella activity also boost releases from Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and others.

Gigs, a new iOS app from Now Playing creators, lets users relive past concerts by importing Setlist.fm data, tracking venues, and notifying when artists return.

Coachella 2026 Weekend 2 outshined Weekend 1 with surprise guests like Madonna, SZA, and Olivia Rodrigo, as artists saved bigger moments for the second weekend.

FC Basel canceled a Ye concert over value conflicts, adding to multiple cancellations across Europe amid ongoing controversies.

Babymetal released a Major Lazer remix of “from me to u,” previewing Metal Forth (Deluxe Edition) out June 26.

Top 5 Singles:

5. BTS – “Swim”

4. Alex Warren – “Ordinary”

3. Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”

2. Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”

1.Ella Langley – “Choosin Texas”

Want to be the first to hear about future livestreams, discuss the latest news, talk about music, and help shape the future of the show? Join the Daily Music Headlines Discord at http://tiny.cc/dmhdiscord

The show is produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. It's written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and 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.

Adele is reportedly returning to the studio to record a new song tied to Tom Ford’s upcoming historical drama Cry to Heaven, which would also mark her acting debut and her first major new music in about five years. 

Music-News

Singer D4vd, born David Burke, was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in the trunk of his impounded Tesla, and he is being held without bail while prosecutors review the case. 

Variety

Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball has become the biggest tour of her career, with Billboard reporting $362.9 million in gross revenue and 1.6 million tickets sold. 

Billboard

Moby says he will donate all of his profits from Coachella 2026 to four animal-rights organizations, extending his long-running activism into this year’s festival performances. 

Billboard

Lana Del Rey has released “First Light,” the official theme for the upcoming James Bond video game 007: First Light, created with veteran Bond composer David Arnold. 

Billboard

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has clarified that original Oasis bassist Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan will be inducted with the band, and former drummer Alan White has also been added after the initial listing caused confusion. 

NME

Meghan Trainor has canceled her 2026 Get In Girl tour, saying that balancing a new album, tour prep, and life with her growing family became too much to take on right now. 

Variety

HYBE, SM, YG, and JYP are reportedly discussing a joint K-pop mega-festival called “Fanomenon,” with plans being explored for a Korean debut in late 2027 and possible global expansion after that, though the project does not appear to be finalized yet. 

Digital Music News

And it’s Friday, so here are some of the freshest releases of the week:

“Drop Dead” - Olivia Rodrigo

Apple Music

“First Light” - Lana Del Rey

Apple Music

“Middle of Nowhere” - Kacey Musgraves

Apple Music

“Stick With You” - TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Apple Music

“Boots on the Ground” - Massive Attack and Tom Waits

Apple Music

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Live Nation and Ticketmaster were found by a New York jury to have illegally monopolized major concert venues, with jurors saying consumers in 22 states were overcharged by about $1.72 per ticket, setting up potentially huge damages while penalties are still to come. apnews.com

CBS set the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards for September 27 and the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for November 14 as part of its new season rollout. billboard.com

Enrique Bunbury joked that Bad Bunny fans who accidentally bought tickets to his show are still welcome to come, but he is not planning to offer refunds. billboard.com

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, postponed his June 11 show in Marseille as French officials weighed blocking the concert over backlash tied to his past antisemitic remarks. music-news.com

Australian police are investigating Ruby Rose’s allegation that Katy Perry sexually assaulted her at a Melbourne nightclub more than a decade ago, while Perry has denied the claim. nme.com

Madonna says her new album Confessions II will arrive July 3, reuniting her with Stuart Price for a dance-focused follow-up to Confessions on a Dance Floor. nme.com

Taylor Momsen says she is recovering after a venomous spider bite in Mexico sent her to the hospital while The Pretty Reckless toured with AC/DC. variety.com

Usher and Chris Brown announced a 33-date co-headlining stadium trek called The R&B Tour, starting June 26 in Denver and ending December 11 in Tampa. variety.com

Now let’s look at this week’s Billboard Japan Hot 100. Nogizaka46 is at No. 1 with “Saigo ni Kaidan wo Kakeagatta no wa Itsu da?”, followed by M!LK’s “Bakuretsu Aishiteru” at No. 2, OWV’s “ROCKET MODE” at No. 3, M!LK’s “Sukisugite Metsu!” at No. 4, and Kenshi Yonezu’s “IRIS OUT” at No. 5 on the chart published April 15, 2026. billboard-japan.com

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Joe Walsh addressed recent health issues during Long Goodbye Las Vegas residency, thanking fans and confirming he plans to continue shows.

Taylor Swift leads 2026 American Music Awards nominations with eight, followed by Olivia Dean and Sombr with seven each. Ceremony is May 25 in Las Vegas.

INXS will receive the Ted Albert Award at the 2026 APRA Music Awards, honoring their legacy, with a tribute performance planned.

ENHYPEN announced the “BLOOD SAGA” world tour starting May 1 in Seoul, including first Latin America dates; wider global dates follow into 2027.

Major labels hired Paul Clement to challenge a ruling allowing global enforcement of U.S. copyright termination rights, seeking Supreme Court review.

Spotify and major labels won a $322M judgment against pirate site Anna’s Archive; enforcement may be difficult due to anonymous operators and domain changes.

Rezz canceled Coachella weekend two due to health issues, joining other artists who pulled out of the festival.

Moog released a limited Bob Moog Tribute Minimoog Model D reissue (500 units), with $500 per sale benefiting the Bob Moog Foundation.

Record Store Day takes place Saturday, featuring exclusive vinyl from artists including The Cure and Bruce Springsteen.

Argentina Hot 100:

#1 “Swim” – BTS;

#2 El Bogueto x Yung Beef;

#3 Ryan Castro/Kapo/Gangsta;

#4 TINI & Ulises Bueno;

#5 La T y La M.

Want to be the first to hear about future livestreams, discuss the latest news, talk about music, and help shape the future of the show? Join the Daily Music Headlines Discord at http://tiny.cc/dmhdiscord

The show is produced by Hammond Chamberlain and Anthony Lemos. It's written and hosted by Brian Ibbott and 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.